THE  TREASURE  OF 


COCOS  ISLAND 


A  STORY  OF  THE  INDIAN  OCEAN 


»Mmil«T  W  HWJft  WSimiCTlOIV 


IS 

Author  of  "A  Runav^ay  Brig,"  "The  Search  for  the  Silver 
City,"  "Jack  the  Hunchback,"  etc.,  etc. 


f 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  J.  WATSON  DAVIS 


A.  L.  BURT  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS, 

52-58  DuAN^E  Street,  New  York. 


PRESERVATION 
COPY  ADDED 
ORIGINAL  TO  BE 
RETAINED 

OCT  1  ^  W92 


( 


Copyright,  1902.    By  A.  L.  Burt. 


THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 
By  James  Otis. 


NOTES 


iSl 


*The  Quichua  and  Aymara,  or  the  Inca  Indians, 
have  no  relations  or  sympathies  with  the  Indians  of 
the  plains,  who  in  their  turn  hold  the  civilized 
Indians  in  great  contempt.  These  descendants  of 
the  Peruvians  under  the  empire  of  the  Incas  are  still 
numerous,  notwithstanding  the  many  causes  which 
have  tended  to  diminish  their  numbers,  and  form  a 
distinct  race,  preserving  the  language  and  manners 
of  their  ancestors,  their  habits  having  been  only 
somewhat  modified  by  the  circumstances  in  which 
they  have  been  placed  since  they  came  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  Spaniards.  The  Quichuas  are  mild  in 
character,  apparently  subdued  and  apathetic — quali- 
ties which  are  but  the  natural  result  of  the  state  of 
subjection  and  debasement  in  which  they  were  long 
held  by  their  conquerors.  They  are,  however,  robust 
and  muscular,  and  capable  of  great  endurance,  though 
little  inclined  to  labor.  Their  customs  are  rude  and 
simple,  their  mode  of  living  poor  in  the  extreme. 
The  Aymaras  are  perhaps  more  mobile  in  character, 
but  in  other  respects  similar."  (Encyclopcedia  Bri- 
tannica,  Vol.  IV,  pp.  14,  15.) 


r>2t>5 


4        THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND.  i 

^'Keeling  Islands,  or  Cocos  Islands,  also  called  by 
Horsburgh  the  Borneo  Coral  Islands,  a  group  in  the 
Indian  Ocean,  about  six  hundred  miles  south  of  the 
coast  of  Sumatra,  in  12°  5'  S.  lat.  and  90°  55'  E. 
long.,  well  known  as  having  furnished  Mr.  Darwin 
with  the  typical  example  of  an  atoll  or  lagoon  island. 
There  are  altogether  twenty-three  small  islands,  nine 
and  a  half  miles  being  the  greatest  width  of  the 
whole  atoll.  The  lagoon  is  very  shallow,  and  the 
passages  between  many  of  the  islands  of  such  trifling 
depth  that  it  is  possible  to  'walk  at  low  tide  with 
some  slight  wading  all  the  way  from  Direction  Isl- 
and to  West  Island.'  An  opening  on  the  northern 
side  of  the  reef  permits  the  entrance  of  vessels  into 
the  northern  part  of  the  lagoon,  which  forms  a  good 
harbor  known  as  Port  Refuge,  or  Port  Albion.  .  .  . 
The  climate  is  temperate  and  extremely  healthy. 
Terrific  storms  sometimes  break  over  the  islands, 
and  it  has  been  more  than  once  visited  by  earth- 
quakes. 

"The  Keeling  Islands  were  discovered  in  1609  by 
William  Keeling  on  his  way  home  from  the  Moluc- 
cas. In  1823  Alexander  Hare,  an  English  adven- 
turer, settled  on  the  southmost  island  with  a  number 
of  slaves.  Some  two  or  three  years  after,  a  Scotch- 
man, J.  Ross,  who  had  commanded  a  brig  during  the 
English  occupation  of  Java,  settled  with  his  family 


NOTES.  6 

on  Direction  Island,  and  his  little  colony  was  soon 
strengthened  by  Hare's  runaway  slaves.  The  Dutch 
Government  had  in  an  informal  way  claimed  posses- 
sion of  the  islands  since  1829;  but  they  refused  to 
allow  Ross  to  hoist  the  Dutch  flag,  and  accordingly 
the  place  was  taken  under  British  protection  in  1856. 
In  1878  it  was  attached  to  the  government  of 
Ceylon." 


THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND 


CHAPTER  I. 
OLD  Manuel's  story. 

"We  buried  gold  and  silver,  coined  and  in  shape 
of  ornaments  and  vessels,  to  such  value  that  even  a 
king  might  envy  the  possessor  of  the  hoard,  and 
there  it  is  to-day  on  a  lonely  island  in  the  Indian 
Ocean.  What  is  more  likely,  there  it  will  remain 
until  some  shipwrecked  sailor  comes  upon  it  by 
chance,  for  but  few  of  us  live  who  outwitted  Spain 
in  '21." 

It  was  old  Manuel  Telceda  who  made  this  start- 
ling assertion  on  a  certain  evening  in  early  spring 
of  the  year  1880  to  the  only  resident  of  Fairhaven 
who  visited  his  lonely  dwelling  amid  the  sand-dunes. 

This  visitor  was  a  boy,  just  turned  fifteen  years  of 
age,  by  name  Winslow  Burbridge,  better  known 
among  his  friends  and  acquaintances  as  "Winn." 

During  six  years  or  more  old  Manuel,  as  the  vil- 
lage people  called  him,  had  resided  in  this  dwelling 
erected  by  himself,  which  was  hardly  more  than  a 

7 


8        THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

shanty,  where  he  could  look  out  over  the  broad 
Atlantic,  and  this  last  appeared  to  be  his  only  occu- 
pation. 

The  "foreigner,"  as  he  was  at  first  designated, 
had  suddenly  made  his  appearance  in  the  village, 
coming  from  no  one  knew  where  and  giving  no  ex- 
planation as  to  the  purpose  of  his  visit. 

During  forty-eight  hours  he  remained  a  guest  at 
the  Fairhaven  Inn  and  then  disappeared  for  a  time — 
left  the  town,  so  the  gossips  said — until  a  few  days 
later,  when  it  was  learned  that  he  had  built  this 
shanty  from  the  wreckage  cast  up  by  the  sea. 

Here  he  lived  alone,  fishing  during  seasonable 
weather,  but  never  attempting  to  dispose  of  the  re- 
sults of  his  labor,  save  when  he  presented  his  first 
and  only  acquaintance  in  Fairhaven,  Winn  Bur- 
bridge,  with  an  exceptionally  fine  cod-fish  or  half  a 
dozen  mackerel. 

After  a  time  Winn  was  invited  to  accompany  the 
old  man  on  his  fishing  trips,  and  the  acquaintance 
between  the  two  rapidly  ripened  into  friendship. 
But  it  was  not  until  on  the  evening  mentioned  that 
Telceda  had  given  any  hint  as  to  his  past  life. 

A  northeast  gale  was  driving  the  ocean  surge  high 
up  on  the  beach  with  thunderous  roar ;  the  rain  was 
beating  against  the  frail  dwelling  as  if  to  demolish 
it,  and  the  burning  wood  in  the  spacious  fireplace  of 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  9 

rough  stone  and  clay  was  sending  forth  a  cheery 
blaze. 

It  was  such  an  evening  as  invited  confidences. 
Winn  had  come  down  to  the  shanty  during  the  fore- 
noon, when  the  storm  had  but  just  begun,  intending 
to  return  shortly  to  the  only  place  in  all  the  world  he 
could  call  home — the  poor-farm.  But,  as  the  gale 
increased,  his  host  insisted  that  it  would  be  folly  to 
attempt  to  make  his  way  over  the  two  miles  of  marsh 
and  scrub  oak  which  lay  between  the  coast  and  Fair- 
haven's  home  for  paupers. 

During  the  earlier  days  of  their  acquaintance  the 
old  man  had  learned  the  boy's  sad  history  by  dint  of 
much  questioning,  and  it  was  not  a  long  task,  owing 
to  the  poverty  of  detail. 

Winn's  parents  died  before  he  was  old  enough  to 
realize  that  he  owned  in  this  world  even  an  exist- 
ence, and  his  first  and  only  recollections  were  re- 
garding life  in  the  Fairhaven  poor-farm.  He  had 
always  been  required  to  perform  such  labor  as  was 
within  his  power,  and  only  during  stormy  weather, 
when  out-of-door  work  was  impossible,  or  in  the 
winter  months  after  his  in-door  tasks  had  been  per- 
formed, did  he  have  an  opportunity  of  visiting  the 
one  person  whom  he  could  call  a  friend. 
1/ The  gossips  of  Fairhaven  said  many  harsh  things 
concerning  old  Manuel.     Some  insisted  that  he  had 


10      THE  TREASURE  OE  COCOS  ISLAND. 

been  a  pirate,  even  though  the  time  was  long  since 
passed  when  such  a  career  of  crime  could  be  pursued. 
Others  professed  to  believe  him  a  fugitive  from  jus- 
tice, although  he  made  no  effort  at  concealment,  and 
all  united  by  saying,  if  not  believing,  that  the  ''for- 
eigner" was  "no  better  than  he  should  be." 

During  his  early  acquaintance  with  Telceda  such 
gossip — and  he  heard  it  even  at  the  poor-farm — had 
annoyed  Winn  Burbridge,  causing  him  to  stand  up 
manfully  for  his  only  friend;  but  older  grown,  he 
treated  the  calumnies  with  silent  contempt,  believing 
firmly  in  the  integrity  of  the  man  who  received  him 
as  a  companion.  So  perfect  was  this  faith  that 
Winn  never  so  much  as  asked  a  question  concerning 
his  host's  life,  and  Manuel  had  not  volunteered  any 
information  until  on  this  stormy  evening,  when,  sup- 
per having  been  eaten,  both  were  seated  before  the 
fire,  the  old  man  smoking  in  apparent  content,  and 
the  boy  from  the  poor-farm  building  air-castles  by 
aid  of  the  glowing  embers. 

Then  it  was  that  Manuel  said : 

''We  buried  gold  and  silver,  coined  and  in  shape 
of  ornaments  and  vessels,  to  such  value  that  even  a 
king  might  envy  the  possessor  of  the  hoard,  and 
there  it  is  to-day  on  a  lonely  island  in  the  Indian 
Ocean.  What  is  more  likely,  there  it  will  remain 
until  some  shipwrecked  sailor  comes  upon  it  by 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  11 

chance,  for  there  are  but  few  of  us  alive  to-day  who 
outwitted  Spain  in  '21." 

Winn  looked  up  in  startled  surprise  as  he  ex- 
claimed : 

*'You  buried  gold  and  silver?'' 

*'Aye,  lad,  to  the  value  of  more  millions  of  dollars 
than  you  could  count  on  the  fingers  of  one  hand." 

"If  I  had  even  so  much  as  two  dollars,  it  would 
stay  in  my  pocket  instead  of  being  buried." 

"I  doubt  you  not,  lad,  and  why?  If  you  had  so 
small  a  sum  it  might  safely  remain  in  your  pocket ; 
but  this  of  which  I  speak  was  the  treasure  of  my 
people,  and  when,  during  the  War  for  Independence, 
it  seemed  certain  Spain  would  be  victorious,  we  had 
but  one  choice  if  we  would  save  our  wealth.  Had 
we  not  buried  it  on  that  lonely  island,  the  oppressors 
might  have  taken  it  and  demanded  indemnity  be- 
sides." 

''But  the  war  begun  in  '61,  not  '21." 

"And  do  you  think,  lad,  that  the  wars  in  this  coun- 
try are  the  only  ones  in  the  world?  From  18 10 
until  1823  the  people  of  Venezuela  fought  to  free 
themselves  from  the  grasp  of  the  oppressors,  as  your 
people  did  in  '76." 

"Was  you  alive  in  1821  ?" 

"Aye,  lad,  very  much  so.  A  boy  ten  years  old 
generally  has  a  good  idea  of  whether  he  is  alive  or 


1^      THE  TKEASURE  OP,  COCOS  ISLAND. 

not,  and  that  was  my  age  when  the  Aymara  treasure 
was  buried.  It  is  now  April  of  1880,  and  I  have 
lived  in  this  world  sixty-nine  years.  Something  of 
a  sailor  I  was,  even  though  so  young,  and  allowed  to 
join  those  who  buried  the  treasure  because,  while 
acting  as  cabin-boy,  I  could  come  nigh  to  doing  a 
seaman's  duty.  We  dreamed  of  a  new  home  some- 
where in  the  Pacific  Ocean,  where  we,  the  Aymaras, 
descendants  of  the  Incas,  might  live  free  and  inde- 
pendent as  had  our  ancestors.  The  search  which  we 
made  was  a  long  one,  if  I  remember  rightly,  and  I 
took  but  little  heed  of  time  in  those  days.  It  was 
nearly  three  years  from  the  day  we  left  our  native 
land  until  the  leaders  of  the  party  decided  upon  a 
hiding-place  for  the  treasure,  and  during  all  those 
months  we  were  afloat.  There  are  many  islands  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  as  mayhap  you  know,  but  no  one 
pleased  us,  and  only  when  the  brig  was  well  down  in 
the  Indian  Ocean  did  we  hit  upon  that  spot  of  land 
which  seemed  to  serve  our  purpose. 

"On  Cocos,  one  of  the  Keeling  Islands,  we 
buried  that  which  we  could  not  keep,  intending  to 
return  with  our  people  and  there  found  a  colony. 
Twenty  days  later — it  may  have  been  more  and  it 
may  have  been  less,  but  certain  it  was  thereabouts — 
the  brig  was  wrecked,  and  of  the  thirty-four  to 
whom  the  Aymara  treasure  was  entrusted  only  six 


OLD  MANUEUS  STORY.  13 

remained  alive,  and  I,  the  most  helpless  of  them  all, 
among  the  number. 

'There  is  no  profit  either  to  you  or  me,  lad,  in 
going  over  the  story  of  what  we  suffered  in  an  open 
boat  for  so  long  a  time,  that  we  ceased  to  note  when 
one  day  was  ended  and  a  new  one  began;  but  as 
many  years  elapsed  before  I  saw  my  home  again,  as 
were  spent  in  searching  for  an  abiding-place,  and 
then  all  whom  I  knew  and  loved  were  dead,  killed 
with  arms  in  their  hands,  or  starved  into  subjection, 
which  is  but  another  name  for  death." 

The  old  man  fell  silent  until  Winn,  eager  to  hear 
more  of  this  treasure,  asked  excitedly : 

"Did  you  leave  the  money  there,  Manuel,  and 
never  try  to  get  any  part  of  it?'* 

"Aye,  that  I  did,  lad,  and  from  good  cause.  Sup- 
pose I  were  to  give  you  the  exact  location  of  that 
treasure,  and  say  you  had  only  to  land  on  the  island 
in  order  to  gain  possession  of  it,  how  might  it  be 
done?" 

"By  me,  do  you  mean  ?" 

"Aye,  lad,  by  you.  Knowing  as  much  as  I,  how 
might  you  get  at  the  wealth  ?" 

"I  couldn't  without  a  vessel  and  men  to  sail 
her." 

"No  more  can  I,  and  here  I  remain  stranded  on 
this  shore  with  mayhap  the  few  dollars  in  my  pocket 


14      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

which  will  serve  to  buy  what  little  I  need  while  life 
remains." 

''But  there  are  plenty  of  people  who  would  will- 
ingly fit  out  a  vessel,  if  so  much  was  to  be  gained." 

''I  doubt  it  not,  my  boy;  but  who  shall  tell  these 
men  ?" 

"You,  of  course." 

"And  thus  aid  in  robbing  my  people?" 

"How  can  they  be  robbed  when  they  are  dead? 
You  said  only  six  came  out  alive  from  the  wreck?" 

"Yes,  lad;  yet  it  may  be  that  more  than  I  have 
reckoned  are  yet  in  this  world,  although  it  is  fair 
that  a,  being  the  youngest,  should  live  the  longest. 
The  Aymara  treasure  belongs  to  the  descendants  of 
the  Incas,  and  it  is  not  for  me  to  rob  them." 

"But  if  they  are  all  dead?"  Winn  persisted. 

"If  they  are,  even  then  the  treasure  is  not  mine  to 
give  away." 

"And  when  you  die  no  one  will  know  of  it?" 

"Of  that  I  am  not  so  certain,  my  boy.  Since  it 
has  come  to  be  my  belief  that  here  on  the  sand-dunes 
of  Fairhaven  I  shall  lay  my  old  bones,  there  has  been 
the  thought  that  you  might  become  the  heir  of  the 
Aymara  treasure." 

"Me !"  Winn  cried,  starting  to  his  feet  in  surprise 
and  excitement. 

Old  Manuel's  pipe  wa^rW      -    K<e  empty,  and  be- 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  15 

fore  replying  to  this  explanation  he  filled  the  bowl 
with  due  deliberation;  then  lighted  the  particles  of 
tobacco  and  puffed  vigorously  until  the  spark  was 
fanned  into  a  glowing  coal,  when  he  said  gravely : 

"I  have  turned  it  over  many  and  many  a  night, 
lad,  until  this  has  come  into  my  mind:  When  the 
time  arrives  that  you  have  made  your  way  into  the 
world,  and  earned  so  much  of  money  as  will  give 
you  the  opportunity  of  doing  what  I  ask,  it  shall  be 
your  business  to  visit  Cuman,  on  the  coast  of  Venez- 
uela, to  learn  of  my  people.  That  having  been 
done,  and  you  satisfied  they  are  the  rightful  owners, 
you  may  enlist  their  aid  to  recover  the  Aymara 
treasure,  taking  for  such  service  one-fifth  part  of  all 
that  may  be  found.  Lad,  that  same  share  will  give 
to  you  such  wealth  that  if  it  was  in  your  mind  to  buy 
this  village  of  Fairhaven  for  a  toy,  you  might  well 
indulge  the  whim." 

The  poor-house  boy  was  on  his  feet  in  a  fever  of 
excitement. 

The  fact  that  this  treasure  of  which  the  old  man 
spoke  was  on  a  lonely  island  in  the  Indian  Ocean  had 
no  place  in  his  thoughts.  He  only  realized  that  he 
might  be  the  heir  of  the  Aymara  hoard,  and  it  was  as 
if  nothing  remained  save  to  stretch  out  his  hand  and 
grasp  it. 

Both  the  occui  u  cabin  had  been  so  deeply 


16      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

interested  in  the  conversation  that  they  failed  to  hear 
a  certain  noise  from  the  outside  which  was  not 
caused  by  the  storm,  and  therefore  were  so  thor- 
oughly surprised  as  to  be  almost  frightened  when  the 
door  was  suddenly  flung  open  and  two  men  entered. 

Winn  recognized  in  the  first  Captain  James  Robin- 
son, master  and  owner  of  the  schooner  "Flying 
Scud,"  and  in  the  second  Bartholomew  Gerry,  a  resi- 
dent of  Fairhaven,  who  was  not  particularly  noted 
for  any  of  the  virtues  which  go  toward  making  up  a 
good  citizen. 

Captain  Jim,  as  the  boys  called  him,  would  to 
Winn  have  been  a  welcome  visitor  at  almost  any 
other  time,  for  more  than  once  had  the  lad  from  the 
poor-farm  been  allowed  to  make  short  fishing-cruises 
on  the  schooner  through  the  kindness  of  her  master ; 
but  in  Gerry,  Winn  fancied  he  saw  an  enemy,  as  did 
every  boy  in  the  town  of  Fairhaven,  because  of  the 
fact  that  he  appeared  to  be  ever  ready  to  inflict  pain 
and  never  willing  to  favor  the  younger  portion  of 
the  population. 

It  was  Gerry  who  opened  the  conversation  by  say- 
ing, as  he  seated  himself  in  front  of  the  fire  without 
awaiting  an  invitation  from  the  master  of  the  house : 

"That  wasn't  half  a  bad  story  you  told,  Manuel. 
The  captain  and  I  might  have  knocked  until  dooms- 
day before  you  would  have  heard  us,  while  your 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  17 

mind  was  on  that  subject.  How  much  of  the  yarn 
is  true?" 

"Since  it  wasn't  told  for  your  benefit,  there  is  no 
necessity  for  me  to  explain  whether  any  of  it  be 
fact." 

"But  it  so  chances  we  heard  all,  and  are  of  a  mind 
to  know  more,"  Gerry  said  in  a  threatening  tone, 
which  caused  a  deep  flush  to  overspread  the  old 
man's  face,  seeing  which  Captain  Jim  hastened  to 
say  sharply: 

"Why  is  it,  Bart,  "that  you  can't  act  the  gentleman 
once  in  a  while  ?  It  ain't  from  lack  of  bringing  up, 
that  I  know." 

"Perhaps  it's  because  soft  speeches  don't  come  as 
natural  to  me  as  to  some  others." 

"I  reckon  there's  more  truth  than  poetry  in  that," 
Captain  Jim  replied  grimly,  and  dismissed  the  sub- 
ject by  turning  toward  Manuel  as  he  said,  "Yes,  we 
heard  the  story  you  told  the  boy,  an'  perhaps  in  the 
hearing  of  it  did  what  wasn't  just  square ;  but  I  allow 
there'll  be  no  great  harm,  an'  some  considerable  good 
done,  seein's  how  we're  ready  to  help  along  in  your 
scheme  for  makin'  Winn  a  rich  man." 

"If  you  were  willing  to  hear  what  wasn't  meant 
for  your  ears,  you  are  not  the  kind  of  men  who  could 
be  trusted  to  aid  the  boy,"  Manuel  said  quickly,  evi- 
dently striving  to  keep  his  temper  within  bounds. 


18      THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'  Gerry  appeared  to  be  on  the  point  of  making  a 
sharp  reply,  but  Captain  Jim  checked  him  as  he  said, 
soothingly : 

*lt  wasn't  with  the  idea  of  worming  the  secret  out 
of  you  that  we  came  here  to-night,  Manuel,  for  I 
didn't  know  you  had  one.  I  counted  on  being  able 
to  hire  you  in  the  job  of  beaching  the  'Flying  Scud,' 
and  on  the  way  met  Gerry.  It  was  all  an  accident, 
an'  seein's  how  we  heard  quite  a  bit  of  what  you 
said,  there  has  come  into  my  mind  the  idea  that  I 
might  do  a  good  turn  for  myself,  at  the  same  time  I 
did  one  for  you." 

"I  haven't  asked  a  favor  of  you  as  yet,"  old 
Manuel  said,  turning  toward  the  fire  with  an  air  of 
irritation. 

"I'll  admit  all  that,  an'  yet  you  may  be  willin'  to 
give  me  a  share  in  this  business.  There  hasn't  been 
time  for  me  to  think  it  all  out;  but  seein's  how  I'm 
the  owner  of  the  'Flying  Scud,'  an'  the  fishing  busi- 
ness has  been  dull  for  the  year  past,  I'd  like  to  take  a 
hand  in  'most  any  kind  of  a  venture,  an'  Bart  has  got 
cash  enough  to  put  the  thing  through.  You  jest  the 
same  as  said  you  counted  on  givin'  this  secret  away 
to  Winn,  allowin'  him  a  fifth  part  of  what  might  be 
found." 

"The  treasure,  if  there  is  any,  belongs  to  my  peo- 
ple," Manuel  replied,  doggedly. 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  19 

^'That's  the  way  I  understood  it  from  the  first,  and 
I'm  allowin'  they  shall  get  it,  excepting  of  course, 
such  part  as  ought  to  be  paid  for  the  findin'  of  the 
stuff.  Now,  if  Bart  agrees,  Td  say  we'd  take  you 
an'  Winn  aboard,  run  down  the  Venezuelan  coast  to 
wherever  Cuman  may  be ;  find  out  how  many  of  your 
folks  are  still  alive,  and  then  go  into  a  regular  trade 
for  getting  the  treasure.  If  all  you  say  be  true,  a 
small  percentage  of  it  ought  to  pay  us  handsomely 
for  the  venture.  Here's  a  chance  such  as  I  allow, 
from  what  you've  told  the  boy,  you've  been  waitin' 
to  find,  an'  it  comes  right  to  your  door.'' 

The  look  of  anger  faded  from  old  Manuel's  face, 
and  he  turned  toward  his  uninvited  guests  with  an 
air  of  friendliness. 

''Allowing  that  half  the  yarn  is  a  fact,  I'll  put  in 
the  cash  to  fit  the  'Flying  Scud'  out  for  the  voyage 
to  the  Keeling  Islands,"  Bart  Gerry  said  promptly. 
"I  ain't  what  you  might  call  a  rich  man,  but  have  got 
enough  to  make  a  venture  like  that,  if  it  so  be  I  see 
my  way  clear." 

"What  I  told  the  boy  was  no  more  nor  less  than 
the  truth,"  old  Manuel  said,  speaking  slowly,  as  if 
giving  due  weight  to  every  word.  "It  may  be  that 
some  of  my  countrymen  have  already  removed  the 
treasure ;  therefore,  should  you  make  a  bargain  with 
me,  such  a  chance  must  be  well  considered." 


20      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"How  much  in'  value  did  you  bury?"  Gerry 
asked. 

"What  would  amount  to  more  than  five  million 
dollars  in  your  money." 

"Do  you  know  whether  any  of  your  countrymen 
have  made  an  attempt  to  regain  the  treasure?" 

"Three  years  ago  I  was  certain  nothing  had  been 
done." 

"And  then  how  many  wxre  living  of  the  boat's 
crew  that  escaped  from  the  wreck  of  the  brig?" 

"One  other  beside  myself.*' 

"Where  is  he  now  ?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"What  is  his  name?" 

"Petro  Garcia." 

"Where  was  he  when  you  saw  him  last?" 

"In  this  hut." 

"Had  he  ever  made  any  attempt  to  go  to  this  isl- 
and of  which  you  have  been  telling?"  Captain  Jim 
asked. 

"He,  like  me,  was  too  poor  to  make  the  venture; 
but  he  had  tried,  as  we  both  have,  many  times." 

"He  must  be  an  old  man,  if  you  were  the  only 
boy." 

"If  alive,  he  is  seventy-three  years  old." 

"Well,  the  chances  are  he  has  pegged  out  long 
before  this,"  Gerry  added  with  a  laugh,  which  caused 


OLD  MANUEL'S  STORY.  21 

a  frown  to  gather  once  more  on  Manuel's  face,  but 
the  old  man  made  no  reply. 

He  turned  toward  the  fire  again,  as  if  the  conver- 
sation was  ended  so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  but 
Captain  Jim  was  not  minded  to  drop  the  subject  he 
found  so  deeply  interesting. 

''Of  course  you  know  exactly  where  all  the  money 
was  buried?" 

Old  Manuel  nodded. 

''You  have  counted  all  along  on  makin'  a  trade 
with  somebody  for  getting  it?" 

Again  Manuel  nodded. 

"Well,  why  not  make  the  deal  with  me?  The 
people  of  Fairhaven  will  tell  you  I  am  on  the  square, 
and,  what  is  more,  I'm  willin'  to  take  you  an'  any 
other  three  you  may  choose,  in  case  we  find  more  of 
your  people  alive.  There  can't  be  much  danger  of 
my  breaking  any  agreement  we  hit  upon.  Accordin' 
to  your  own  story,  you  have  given  up  every  hope  of 
getting  it,  and  here  is  a  chance  you  have  looked  for 
all  your  life  in  vain.  We'll  take  the  risk  of  starting 
on  the  voyage  so  far  as  going  to  Venezuela  is  con- 
cerned, and  then  if  nothing  is  learned  to  show  that 
the  money  has  been  dug  up,  we'll  keep  on,  Bart  an'  I, 
takin'  such  a  percentage  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  be- 
tween you  an'  your  countrymen." 

"I'll  think  it  over,"  the  old  man  said,  studying  the 


22      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

coals  in  the  fire-place  as  if  believing  there  he  could 
read  the  proper  answer  to  the  proposal. 

"I  can't  see  that  there  is  need  of  any  great  study 
over  the  matter.  You've  got  nothing  to  lose  and 
everything  to  gain.  We're  the  ones  who  take  all  the 
risk." 

"I'll  think  it  over,"  Manuel  said,  impatiently,  and 
Captain  Jim  checked  the  hasty  words  which  it  was 
evident  Bart  Gerry  was  about  to  utter,  by  saying : 

"Of  course,  it  is  your  right  to  run  the  thing  after 
your  own  fashion.  When  will  you  give  us  an 
answer?" 

"To-morrow  morning.^' 

"We'll  be  here  before  the  tide  turns,  an'  if  it  so  be 
you're  wise  enough  to  take  advantage  of  our  offer, 
we'll  beach  the  schooner  at  high  water.  Bart  will 
see  to  getting  the  stores;  I'll  make  arrangements 
with  the  selectmen  to  get  Winn  out  of  the  poor- 
house,  and  in  less  than  a  week  you  can  be  afloat, 
bound  for  Venezuela." 

"I'll  think  it  over." 

Captain  Jim  was  a  wise  man  after  his  own  fash- 
ion, and  instead  of  urging  old  Manuel  further  he 
literally  forced  Bart  Gerry  to  follow  him  out  of  the 
hut. 


CHAPTER  11. 

A  BARGAIN. 

After  Captain  Jim  and  Bart  Gerry  had  left  the 
hut  on  the  sand-dunes  Winn  turned  eagerly  toward 
the  old  man,  believing  he  was  to  hear  more  about  the 
wonderful  treasure ;  but  in  this  he  was  mistaken. 

Manuel  sat  staring  into  the  fire,  the  unlighted  pipe 
in  his  mouth,  as  if  he  was  the  only  occupant  of  the 
building,  and  fully  half  an  hour  passed  in  silence, 
save  for  the  roaring  of  the  wind  and  beating  of  the 
heavy  surf  outside. 

The  boy  from  the  poor-farm  asked  no  questions, 
but  waited  patiently  until  it  should  be  Manuel's 
pleasure  to  address  him,  and  perhaps  it  was  this 
habit  of  his  which  had  first  won  the  old  man's 
friendship,  for  the  guardian  of  the  Aymara  treasure 
often  indulged  in  silence  even  while  Winn  was  his 
guest. 

When  he  did  finally  speak,  however,  it  was  on  that 
subject  which  occupied  the  boy's  mind  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  everything  else. 

"The  captain  of  the  Tlying  Scud'  made  a  fair 
offer." 

23 


24      THE  TKEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

''He's  a  square  man,  so  'Squire  Kelly  says,  an' 
there's  nobody  in  Fairhaven  who  can  put  a  finger  on 
anything  he's  ever  done  that  isn't  straight,"  Winn 
replied  stoutly,  more  than  willing  to  speak  a  good 
word  for  the  man  who  had  ever  treated  him  less 
harshly  than  did  the  majority  of  the  citizens  of  the 
town. 

"I'm  not  taken  with  Bart  Gerry,"  old  Manuel  con- 
tinued musingly. 

"Folks  'round  here  don't  like  him  over  an'  above 
well ;  but  they  say  he's  got  quite  a  pile  of  money,  an' 
Captain  Jim  ain't  any  too  well  fixed.  I  s'pose  it 
would  cost  mighty  heavy  to  send  a  vessel  from  here 
to  that  island  you  told  about?" 

"Indeed  it  would,  lad.  It  means  a  two  years' 
cruise  for  a  schooner  like  the  'Flying  Scud,'  and 
stores  must  be  bought  for  the  entire  voyage,  no  mat- 
ter how  much  treasure  may  be  taken  on  board  once 
we  are  there." 

"If  you  can't  do  the  thing  yourself,  it  seems  as  if 
Captain  Jim's  offer  was  a  good  one,"  Winn  sug- 
gested, after  a  brief  pause,  during  which  old  Manuel 
gazed  at  him  searchingly,  as  if  trying  to  read  his 
thoughts. 

"So  it  is,  lad,  if  he  can  be  depended  upon.  I've 
never  had  one-half  as  much  encouragement  before, 
for  whenever  I  have  hinted  at  such  an  amount  of 


A  BARGAIN.  25 

treasure  people  have  laughed  at  me,  even  though  it 
is  a  matter  of  history  that  the  Aymaras  did  carry  all 
their  wealth  to  a  distant  shore." 

"U  Captain  Jim  takes  two  of  your  countrymen 
and  you  with  him,  I  don't  see  why  you  can't  depend 
upon  him." 

'There  are  many  ways  by  which  he  could  de- 
prive us  of  the  gold,  for  at  the  best  we  would 
be  but  three  against  a  crew  of  half  a  dozen  or 
more." 

''Wouldn't  I  count  for  anything?"  Winn  asked, 
hesitatingly,  blushing  as  he  spoke.  "The  captain 
said  he'd  see  to  it  that  I  was  cleared  from  the  poor- 
farm." 

"You  would  count  for  all  that  could  be  expected 
of  an  honest  lad;  but  that  might  be  of  little  avail 
against  such  a  man  as  Bart  Gerry  gives  token  of 
being." 

"I  don't  believe  Captain  Jim  would  stand  still  an' 
let  him  do  anything  wrong,  after  he'd  given  his  word 
as  he  offered  to  do." 

"Then  you  believe  I  should  accept  the  offer?"  old 
Manuel  asked,  almost  eagerly,  as  if  disposed  to 
throw  the  weight  of  the  decision  upon  this  boy,  who 
was  ignorant  of  all  the  world  save  that  portion  con- 
tained within  the  limits  of  Fairhaven. 

"Of  course  I  don't  know  much  about  what's  to  be 


26      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

done ;  but  Vm  certain  Captain  Jim  will  live  up  to  his 
word/' 

'Then  it's  a  bargain/'  and  Manuel  relighted  his 
pipe  with  the  air  of  one  who  is  relieved  by  having 
settled  a  vexed  question.  *'If  your  captain  is  will- 
ing to  bind  himself,  he  shall  have  a  twentieth  part  of 
all  that  may  be  found.  Should  we  meet  any 
Aymaras  who  were  alive  in  1821,  then  you  and  I  will 
take  the  same  share,  and  the  remainder  shall  be 
delivered  to  the  rightful  owners.     In  case  we  fail 

in  the  search  for  my  people,  the  shares  shall  be 

There  is  no  reason  why  that  question  should  come 
up  now ;  it  will  be  time  enough  to  decide  it  after  vis- 
iting Venezuela." 

Winn  was  nearly  breathless  with  excitement  as  he 
asked : 

''Do  you  think  it  will  be  possible  for  Captain  Jim 
to  get  me  free  from  the  poor- farm?" 

"That  part  of  the  business  shouldn't  be  hard,  my 
lad,  and  if  fhe  officers  of  this  town  make  any  objec- 
tions to  your  going,  I  will  take  it  upon  myself  to  see 
that  you  are  one  of  the  party,  for  I  am  determined 
not  to  set  sail  without  you." 

Winn  would  have  given  words  to  his  gratitude 
but  that  old  Manuel  prevented  him  by  describing  the 
place  where  the  Aymara  treasure  had  remained  hid- 
den so  many  years. 


A  BARGAIN.  27 

"It  is  on  Cocos  Island,  the  smallest  of  the  Keeling 
group,  that  we'll  visit,  my  lad,  if  the  captain  holds 
to  his  offer,  an'  that  lays  in  latitude  12°  5'  south, 
longitude  90°  55'  east." 

Winn  looked  puzzled,  as  well  he  might,  for  this 
was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  heard  a  location  de- 
scribed by  such  a  method. 

''I  reckon  you  don't  know  much  about  navigation 
as  yet,  but  it'll  soon  come  into  your  head  after  we're 
at  sea.  The  next  time  you  get  hold  of  an  atlas  look 
in  the  Indian  Ocean  for  the  Keeling  group.  You'll 
find  that  one  is  called  Horsburgh,  another  Keeling,  a 
third  Direction,  and  the  others  won't  be  set  down  as 
having  any  names.  I  can  see  them  in  my  mind, 
though,  and  could  almost  go  blindfolded  to  the  spot 
where  we  buried  the  treasure.  At  the  time  the 
older  men  of  the  party  made  a  chart,  so  there'd  be  no 
trouble  in  finding  the  hoard  when  those  who  had  the 
right  should  need  it ;  but  neither  Petro  nor  I  bothered 
our  young  heads  then  very  much  about  such  a  mat- 
ter. When  he  came  here  two  years  ago  we  knew 
that  there  were  not  many  days  remaining  to  us  in 
this  world,  and  together  drew  a  map  which  should 
guide  any  one  to  the  place.  That  I  will  give  to  Cap- 
tain Robinson,  after  visiting  Cuman;  but  you  shall 
take  a  copy  in  case  I  am  not  alive  when  the  'Flying 
Scud'  arrives  at  Cocos  Island." 


28      THE  TKEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Then  the  old  man  began  to  discuss  the  possibiH- 
ties  of  the  voyage  which  it  was  proposed  should  be 
made,  growing  each  moment  more  excited  over  the 
prospect  of  restoring  to  his  people  the  wealth  which 
their  ancestors  had  saved  from  the  clutches  of  the 
enemy,  until  both  he  and  Winn  were  heedless  of  the 
passage  of  time. 

The  rising  sun  saw  them  yet  seated  before  the 
smouldering  embers  of  the  fire  speculating  upon  the 
future,  which  to  them  at  that  moment  was  by  no 
means  a  riddle,  and  here  Captain  Jim  and  Bart  Gerry 
found  them. 

As  if  it  had  been  previously  agreed  upon,  Gerry 
did  not  offer  to  take  any  part  in  the  conversation 
which  ensued ;  but  simply  made  a  suggestion  here  or 
there  when  some  important  detail  seemed  to  have 
been  forgotten. 

The  tide  was  nearly  at  its  height  when  the  bargain 
was  finally  made  and  a  rough  agreement  signed  by 
the  three  men  and  Winn,  old  Manuel  insisting  that 
the  boy  should  appear  as  one  of  the  principals  in  the 
transaction,  although  Gerry  at  first  objected  to  such 
a  course,  asking  impatiently : 

"What  is  the  sense  of  draggin'  a  kid  into  the 
trade  ?  It's  enough  if  we  agree  that  you  an'  he  take 
the  same  amount  we  do." 

"He  is  to  share  with  me,"  Manuel  said,  sharply. 


A  BARGAIN.  29 

''Well,  that's  understood." 

"In  case  anything  happens  to  me  during  the  voy- 
age he  will  stand  in  my  place,  therefore  his  name 
must  appear  here  as  one  of  the  two  who  have  power 
to  make  such  a  bargain  as  we  have  just  agreed 
upon." 

''But  he  hasn't  that  power,  as  we  well  know." 

"I  say  he  has,  for  I  have  given  it  to  him  by  telling 
him  everything  I  know  concerning  the  hoard." 

"But  we  must  share  the  secret  also,"  and  Bart 
started  to  his  feet,  as  if  afraid  he  was  to  be  de- 
frauded in  some  unexplainable  manner. 

"You  will  know  all  that  is  necessary  to  enable  us 
to  find  the  spot  where  my  people  hid  the  treasure; 
but  he  shall  be  told  what  will  serve  him  after  I  die, 
if  it  should  so  chance  you  would  break  the  bargain 
we  have  made." 

"Why  do  you  quibble  about  nothing,  Bart?"  Cap- 
tain Jim  said  soothingly,  as  he  gently  pushed  his 
friend  into  the  chair.  "Manuel  will  tell  all  we  need 
about  the  treasure,  an'  if  Winn  knows  of  other  mat- 
ters it's  no  concern  of  ours." 

After  this  controversy  Gerry  made  no  further  ob- 
jections against  the  boy's  name  appearing  on  the 
contract,  and  once  this  had  been  signed  the  captain 
said  with  an  air  of  business : 

"It  is  time  to  attend  to  the  schooner.     We'll 


30      THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

beach  her,  an'  after  nightfall,  when  it  is  not  possible 
to  push  ahead  with  the  work,  we  can  hear  Manuel's 
story  which  is  to  set  us  on  the  track  of  the  Aymara 
treasure." 

''Why  don't  we  get  the  particulars  now?"  Gerry 
asked,  in  a  not  very  amiable  tone. 

"Because  we  can't  afford  to  idle  away  so  much  as 
a  day.  To-morrow  I  hope  we'll  be  getting  the 
stores  on  board,  and  within  two  weeks  I  count  on 
setting  sail." 

It  could  plainly  be  seen  that  Gerry  did  not  approve 
of  waiting  even  an  hour  before  hearing  the  secret; 
but  Captain  Jim  was  determined,  and  the  four  set 
out  to  aid  in  hauling  the  "Flying  Scud"  up  on  the 
beach,  for  Fairhaven  did  not  boast  of  a  dry-dock. 
Therefore  it  was  necessary  to  make  all  repairs  on  a 
craft  when  she  was  lying  heeled  over  on  the  sands. 

It  was  Winn's  duty  to  return  to  the  poor-farm, 
for  his  leave  of  absence  had  expired;  but  when  he 
suggested  as  much  Captain  Jim  said  decidedly : 

"That  part  of  it  is  the  same  as  settled,  lad.  I 
talked  with  'Squire  Kelly  last  night,  offering  to  take 
you  with  me  as  cook,  an'  he  agreed  to  fix  the  busi- 
ness with  the  other  selectmen;  consequently  you're 
one  of  my  crew,  with  no  other  concern  about  the 
poor-farm  than  to  go  there  for  what  little  dunnage 
you  may  call  your  own." 


A  BARGAIISr.  31 

"And  he  will  live  with  me  until  we  sail,"  old 
Manuel  added. 

''You  can  settle  that  part  of  it  to  suit  yourselves. 
I  made  out  that  I  wanted  the  boy  as  cook,  for  Bart 
an'  I've  agreed  to  keep  secret  the  object  of  our  voy- 
age, or  even  the  port  we're  bound  for,  else  we'd  have 
the  whole  country  'round  our  ears,  every  fool  doin' 
his  best  to  get  ahead  of  us." 

Thus  it  was  that  Winn  Burbridge  was  released 
from  the  poor-farm  when  he  least  expected  to  be 
free,  and  thus  also  did  he  tacitly  agree  to  act  as  cook 
during  a  voyage  to  the  Indian  Ocean,  although  it  is 
doubtful  if  he  had  ever  assisted  in  boiling  so  much 
as  a  potato. 

''All  hands  would  starve  to  death  if  they  counted 
on  me  to  get  the  meals,"  he  said  to  old  Manuel  at  the 
first  opportunity,  and  the  latter  reassured  him  by 
replying : 

"You  shall  figure  as  cook,  and  I'll  do  the  work, 
for  it's  somewhat  in  my  line.  Captain  Robinson  has 
done  us  a  favor  by  making  such  an  arrangement, 
otherwise  you  would  be  called  upon  to  perform  a 
sailor's  duty." 

"Which  I  could  do  in  fairly  good  style." 

"It  is  much  better  as  the  captain  has  said,  and  you 
will  so  learn  before  we  have  been  at  sea  twenty- four 
hours." 


S2      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Quite  naturally,  Winn  was  in  a  high  state  of 
mental  excitement  during  the  ten  days  which  fol- 
lowed the  signing  of  the  agreement,  for  he  had 
never  been  outside  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Fair- 
haven,  and  this  voyage  to  the  Indian  Ocean  in  search 
of  buried  treasure  was  such  an  adventure  as  would 
have  aroused  even  the  most  experienced  traveler. 

The  boys  of  his  acquaintance  congratulated  him 
warmly  on  leaving  the  poor- farm  for  a  berth  on 
board  the  "Flying  Scud" ;  but  he  would  have  been 
envied  by  all  had  the  whole  truth  been  known. 

The  four  who  had  signed  the  agreement  for  the 
removal  of  the  Aymara  treasure  kept  their  secret 
well,  despite  the  curiosity  aroused  by  the  unusual 
amount  of  stores  put  on  board  the  schooner,  and  the 
fact  that  Bart  Gerry  "had  gone  into  partnership  with 
Captain  Jim." 

Agreeably  to  his  promise,  old  Manuel  had  told  his 
new  partners  nearly  all  he  knew  concerning  the  gold 
they  hoped  to  find,  even  confiding  to  them  a  copy  of 
the  chart  of  the  island  which  he  and  Petro  Garcia 
had  made. 

Only  on  certain  matters  between  himself  and  this 
same  Petro  did  he  remain  silent  to  all  save  Winn, 
who  now  shared  fully  in  everything  connected  with 
the  treasure. 

"I  may  not  live  to  see  the  island  again,"  the  old 


A  BARGAIN.  33 

man  would  repeat  when  the  boy  insisted  that  there 
was  no  reason  why  he  should  be  given  so  many  ap- 
parently unimportant  details,  "and  it  is  necessary 
you  know  all  that  I  am  able  to  tell." 

So  often  was  the  remark  made  that  Winn  became 
almost  convinced  his  old  friend  would  soon  depart 
this  life,  and  such  conviction  went  far  toward  check- 
ing his  joy  at  the  prospect  of  going  forth  into  the 
world. 

No  fault  could  have  been  found  with  Bart  Gerry 
in  the  way  of  making  provision  for  the  voyage.  He 
purchased  ample  supplies  of  the  best  quality,  en- 
gaged able  seamen,  and  in  every  possible  manner 
took  precautions  against  accidents  of  whatsoever 
nature. 

It  was  to  Winn  as  if  these  days  in  which  the  prep- 
arations were  being  made  consisted  of  but  half  the 
usual  number  of  hours,  so  rapidly  did  they  pass,  and 
when  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  they  had  but  just  begun 
to  make  ready,  the  hour  for  departure  had  arrived. 

There  was  no  more  jaunty  craft  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  tons  burden  to  be  found  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  than  the  "Flying  Scud"  after  she  was  trimmed 
according  to  the  command  of  her  master  and  owner, 
and  nearly  every  man,  woman  and  child  living  in 
Fairhaven  was  on  the  pier  when  the  voyagers  left 
port. 


34      THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Not  until  the  anchor  was  inboard  and  the  sails 
rounded  by  the  north  wind  into  ivory  spheres  as  the 
schooner  rose  and  fell  on  the  ocean  swell,  did  Winn 
fully  realize  that  he  was  to  share  in  an  adventure 
such  as  seldom  falls  to  the  lot  of  any  boy.  But,  de- 
spite all  this — despite  the  fact  that  he  was  leaving 
the  poor- farm  forever  to  fight  the  battle  of  life,  there 
was  a  decidedly  uncomfortable  lump  in  his  throat 
when  the  town  slowly  faded  from  view. 

There  was  little  fear  the  amateur  cook  might 
suffer  from  seasickness ;  he  had  made  so  many  fish- 
ing voyages  as  to  be  well  seasoned,  and  would  prob- 
ably be  able  to  keep  his  feet  as  long  as  the  oldest 
shell-back  among  them,  therefore  Manuel  knew  he 
was  not  suffering  the  usual  penalty  paid  by  the  fresh- 
water sailor  when  he  found  the  lad  leaning  against  a 
corner  of  the  galley,  looking  unusually  grave. 

"Are  you  homesick  before  we  have  lost  sight  of 
land  ?"  he  asked,  with  a  smile. 

"If  I  had  a  home  and  a  father  or  mother,  as  other 
boys  have,  I  might  believe  that  is  what  ails  me ;  but 
it  doesn't  seem  possible  that  a  fellow  who  is  leaving 
the  poor-farm  can  be  sorry  because  of  going." 

"Fairhaven  is  the  only  place  you  can  as  yet  call 
home,  and  it  is  not  strange  you  should  be  sad  at  leav- 
ing it,  even  though  your  life  there  was  not  the  most 
pleasant.     I  remember  well  the  day  I  left  Cuman  on 


A  BARGAIN.  35 

board  a  craft  hardly  half  as  large  as  this  to  aid  in 
burying  the  treasure.  It  seemed  as  if  my  heart 
would  break." 

''But  you  were  leaving  your  parents." 

"True,  yet  I  believed  that  in  less  than  a  twelve- 
month I  should  be  with  them  again,  and  to  a  boy  of 
your  age  a  year  is  as  nothing  when  spent  in  what 
promises  to  be  pleasure.  Now  my  face  is  set  to- 
ward the  treasure  again,  and  as  then,  I  am  empty- 
handed — a  lifetime  of  hard  work  finds  me  no  better 
off  than  when  I  first  left  home." 

"Haven't  you  any  money  ?" 

"There  may  be  a  few  dollars  in  my  pockets,  but 
not  so  many  that  very  much  time  need  be  spent  in 
counting  them.  ^What  I  bought  as  an  outfit  for  us 
both,  and  the  old  dory  which  Captain  Robinson  ob- 
jected to  taking  because  of  the  space  on  deck  she 
would  occupy,  makes  up  a  list  of  my  wealth ;  but  yet 
we  shall  come  back  richer  than  any  man  in  Fair- 
haven." 

"Why  did  you  take  the  dory?  There  are  two 
good  boats  belonging  to  the  schooner,  and  it  doesn't 
seem  as  if  we  should  need  her." 

"Most  likely  we  won't ;  yet  it  was  a  whim  of  mine 
to  carry  the  old  craft,  and  she  may  be  of  some  little 
service  before  this  voyage  comes  to  an  end.  But 
we  have  work  to  do,  instead  of  standing  here  idle, 


36      THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

lad.  The  men  will  be  looking  for  dinner  in  less  than 
two  hours,  so  take  your  last  look  at  Fairhaven,  for  a 
couple  of  years  at  the  least,  and  well  see  how  skill- 
ful is  the  cook  of  the  'Flying  Scud.'  " 

"It  won't  take  long  to  find  out  that,  if  you  call  me 
the  cook,"  Winn  replied,  with  a  hearty  laugh  which 
banished  the  faint  homesickness  that  had  assailed 
him,  and  a  few  moments  later  he  was  taking  his  first 
lesson  in  the  art  of  preparing  food  on  ship-board. 

Had  Winn  been  alone  it  is  quite  certain  the  crew 
of  the  schooner  would  have  insisted  on  making  an 
immediate  change  of  galley  captains;  but,  thanks 
to  Manuel,  their  first  meal  was  so  satisfactory  that 
one  of  the  oldest  among  the  crew  was  heard  to  say 
to  a  mate  that  this  was  the  ''first  time  he'd  ever  seen 
a  kid  who  could  make  salt  boss  taste  like  real  beef." 

Before  night  came  the  boy  from  the  Fairhaven 
poor- farm  was  feeling  perfectly  at  home  in  the  galley 
of  the  "Flying  Scud,"  and  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life  could  say  with  perfect  truth  that  the  future 
looked  bright  to  him. 

There  was  no  thought  in  his  mind  that  this  adven- 
ture, which  promised  so  much  in  the  way  of  enjoy- 
ment, could  be  other  than  thoroughly  pleasurable, 
and,  fortunately  for  himself,  there  was  no  "shadow 
of  coming  events"  to  mar  his  present  happiness. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  STARTLING  DISCLOSURE. 

Winn  was  an  apt  pupil,  and  by  the  time  the  "Fly- 
ing Scud"  had  made  Cape  Hatteras  he  could  cook  in 
such  a  manner  as  met  with  the  approbation  of  the 
occupants  of-  the  forecastle. 

The  meals  for  the  cabin  were  prepared  by  old 
Manuel  himself,  and  when  they  were  served  the  four 
partners  partook  of  them  in  company,  even  though 
two  members  of  the  firm  did  not  occupy  such  a  posi- 
tion on  ship-board  as  would  ordinarily  warrant  their 
dining  with  the  captain  and  mate. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  owner  of  the  vessel 
acted  as  master,  and  Bart  Gerry  filled  the  berth  of 
mate,  although  he  was  not  a  seaman. 

It  had  been  decided  when  the  arrangements  for 
the  voyage  were  made,  that,  so  far  as  possible,  the 
command  of  the  vessel  should  remain  entirely  among 
those  most  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  the 
voyage;  therefore  it  was  that  Bart,  Manuel  and 
Winn,  although  each  filled  a  stated  position  on 
board,  all  turned  their  hands  to  whatsoever  duty 
was  most  pressing. . 

37 


38      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

The  little  cabin  had  no  other  occupant  than  the 
partners. 

In  any  voyage  by  sea,  however  brief,  much  of 
interest  transpires,  and  this  cruise  down  to  the 
Venezuelan  coast  was  no  exception  to  the  general 
rule;  but  the  details  are  of  so  little  importance  in 
comparison  with  the  grand  purpose  of  the  adventure 
that  it  seems  best  to  omit  them,  however  entertain- 
ing they  might  appear  when  set  down  in  words. 

'Therefore  it  is  that  no  mention  will  be  made  of 
what  occurred  on  board  the  "Flying  Scud"  from  the 
time  she  left  Fairhaven  until  anchor  was  dropped 
off  the  coast  of  Venezuela,  within  two  marine  miles 
of  the  port  of  Cuman. 

It  was  in  this  vicinity  that  old  Manuel  hoped  to 
find  the  survivors  of  his  people,  and  the  schooner 
had  been  brought  to  an  anchor  in  accordance  with 
his  directions,  which  last  occasioned  Winn  so  much 
surprise  that,  at  the  risk  of  being  impertinent,  he 
asked  for  an  explanation  while  the  two  were  alone  in 
the  galley. 

'Why  is  it  that  we  have  come  to  anchor  here  on 
the  open  coast  rather  than  go  into  the  port  of 
Cuman  ?  I  expected  to  see  all  the  towns  and  cities 
on  our  way,  and  yet  at  the  first  place  we  stop  orders 
are  given  that  no  one  is  to  go  ashore  ?" 

''You  will  visit  so  many  strange  lands,  lad,  before 


A   STARTLING  DISCLOSURE.  39 

we  return,  if  it  so  be  we  live  to  return,  that  the  little 
port  of  Cuman  will  have  no  interest  for  you  a  year 
or  more  from  now,  and  it  was  necessary  for  my  pur- 
pose that  we  stop  here." 

''But  your  people  live  in  this  town." 

''Not  so,  lad.  I  but  mentioned  the  port  in  order 
to  describe  the  general  location  of  the  Aymaras. 
We  are  of  a  race  proscribed,  and  have  been  since  the 
dark  days  of  '21.  Those  who  call  themselves  Incas 
do  not  proclaim  it  aloud ;  it  is  only  in  the  forest  that 
we  say,  'We  are  of  the  Aymaras.'  " 

"But  why  is  all  that  necessary?  Surely  those 
who  are  alive  to-day  cannot  be  punished  for  what 
others  did  fifty-nine  years  ago." 

"They  may  not  be  punished  for  that,  lad;  but  the 
story  of  the  Aymara  treasure  is  as  well  known  to 
those  who  rule  in  Venezuela  to-day  as  to  you,  save 
so  far  as  its  whereabouts  is  concerned,  and  more 
than  one  of  my  race  have  been  cruelly  tortured  in 
the  hope  of  making  them  divulge  a  secret  they  did 
not  possess.  Therefore  it  is  that  we  deny  our  own 
blood." 

"How  do  you  expect  to  find  these  people?  It 
must  have  been  a  long  while  since  you  were 
here?" 

"Since  I  was  here?  Yes.  Petro,  who  visited 
me,  came  directly  from  this  spot  to  the  United 


40      THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

States,  and  from  what  he  told  I  hope  my  search  will 
not  be  in  vain." 

"When  will  you  go  ashore?" 

''Within  an  hour." 

"Will  any  of  the  crew  be  permitted  to  land?" 

"Not  if  my  wishes  are  consulted.  Captain  Robin- 
son has  promised  that  during  thirty-six  hours  every 
man  shall  remain  on  board." 

"And  at  the  end  of  that  time?" 

"I  shall  have  succeeded  or  failed,  and  in  the  last 
event  there  will  be  a  new  compact  between  us  who 
have  set  out  to  find  the  Aymara  treasure." 

"Why  may  that  be  necessary?" 

"As  the  compact  now  stands  we  recognize  my 
people  as  the  rightful  owners  of  the  hoard.  If  they 
no  longer  have  an  existence,  or  have  been  so  con- 
taminated by  the  blood  of  those  who  now  rule  this 
land  as  to  cease  to  be  true  Aymaras,  I  shall  consider 
that  Petro  Garcia  and  myself  have  the  first  claim 
upon  the  treasure." 

The  coming  of  Captain  Jim  put  an  end  to  this 
conversation,  and  half  an  hour  later  old  Manuel  was 
rowed  ashore  by  two  of  the  sailors. 

The  young  cook  went  about  his  duties  unaided; 
the  captain  and  acting  mate  lounged  in  the  cabin; 
the  sailors  spent  their  time  on  deck  under  impromptu 
awnings  in  idleness. 


A   STARTLING  DISCLOSURE.  41 

When  night  came  old  Manuel  was  still  absent,  but 
this  occasioned  his  partners  no  surprise,  for  it  was 
hardly  to  be  supposed  he  could  have  transacted  the 
desired  business  in  so  short  a  space  of  time,  and 
there  was  no  reason  why  any  uneasiness  should  be 
felt  concerning  him,  yet  Winn  was  far  from  being 
comfortable  in  mind. 

During  the  afternoon  hie  observed  more  than  once 
the  captain  and  his  mate  in  close  conversation,  and 
it  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  latter  was  trying  to  per- 
suade the  master  of  the  'Tlying  Scud"  into  some 
course  of  action  which  did  not  meet  with  the  for- 
mer's approval. 

Even  if  this  was  true,  Winn  had  sufficient  com- 
mon-sense to  understand  that  it  might  not  concern 
either  himself  or  Manuel — that  Bart  Gerry  might 
be  arguing  upon  some  subject  remote  from  the  pur- 
pose of  the  voyage;  but  yet  he  believed,  without 
knowing  why  he  did  so,  that  this  long  conversation 
and  oftentimes  angry  discussion  had  reference  to 
the  compact  which  was  signed  by  those  who  had 
agreed  to  unearth  the  Aymara  treasure. 

Although  brought  up  in  a  home  for  paupers,  the 
boy  had  certain  ideas  of  his  own  as  to  what  might 
constitute  honorable  dealings,  and  eavesdropping 
w^as  to  his  mind  something  to  which  an  honest  man 
would  not  stoop. 


43      THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

More  than  once  before  he  "turned  in"  for  the 
night  was  Winn  strongly  tempted  to  make  an  effort 
at  discovering  what  subject  Captain  Jim  and  Bart 
were  discussing,  but  he  resisted  such  inclination,  and 
laid  himself  down  in  his  narrow  bunk  more  dis- 
turbed in  mind  than  he  ever  remembered  of  being 
before. 

Mental  troubles  do  not  ordinarily  banish  sleep 
from  the  eyes  of  a  fifteen-year-old  boy,  and  the  cook 
of  the  "Flying  Scud"  did  not  long  remain  awake 
after  once  having  composed  himself  for  slumber. 

When  he  was  aroused  next  morning  by  Captain 
Jim,  and  ordered  to  "bear  a  hand  with  breakfast," 
the  forebodings  of  the  night  were  almost  forgotten, 
and  he  set  about  his  duties  as  heartily  as  if  nothing 
had  occurred  to  disturb  him. 

Old  Manuel,  the  friend  whom  he  could  trust  im- 
plicitly, would  soon  be  on  board  again,  and  if  any 
mischief  was  being  brewed,  he  was  the  one  above  all 
others  capable  of  discovering  it. 

After  breakfast  had  been  served  both  in  the  fore- 
castle and  the  cabin,  it  was  necessary  the  boy  should 
begin  his  preparations  for  dinner,  and  therefore  he 
had  little  time  for  thought  of  anything  save  his 
regular  duties  until  the  noonday  meal  was  at  an  end, 
when  the  prolonged  absence  of  the  descendant  of  the 
Incas  began  to  cause  him  anxiety. 


A  STARTLING  DISCLOSURE.  43 

Manuel  had  said  that  if  he  was  not  successful  in 
finding  some  trace  of  his  people  in  thirty-six  hours 
the  voyage  should  not  longer  be  delayed.  There 
now  remained  but  ten  hours  more  in  which  the 
search  could  be  prosecuted,  and  his  delay  seemed  to 
betoken  failure. 

Seated  on  the  rail  aft  Winn  watched  intently  for 
his  friend,  and  while*  he  was  thus  engaged  Captain 
Jim  came  out  of  the  cabin  and  said,  after  looking 
around  to  make  certain  none  of  the  crew  were 
within  ear-shot : 

''Well,  lad,  it  begins  to  look  as  if  the  old  man  was 
making  a  failure  of  his  business,  and  I  heartily  hope 
it  may  be  so." 

"Hope  he  will  fail?"  Winn  asked  in  surprise. 

''Of  course,  and  so  ought  you,  for  in  that  case  we 
four  could  look  upon  ourselves  as  heirs  of  the  Ay- 
mara  treasure.  It  will  make  a  big  difference  in  our 
pockets  whether  we  have  a  twentieth  or  a  quarter  of 
the  whole  amount." 

"Do  you  believe  Manuel  would  agree  to  our  taking 
the  whole?"  Winn  asked,  thoroughly  surprised  by 
the  captain's  remark. 

"As  I  look  at  the  matter  he  won't  have  any 
choice,  if  we're  of  a  mind  to  hold  out  for  our  rights. 
In  case  those  who  buried  the  treasure  cannot  be 
found,  to  whom  does  it  belong  if  not  to  us  ?" 


44      THE  TKEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"But  Manuel  is  certain  Petro  Garcia  still  lives, 
and  surely  the  money  belongs  to  those  two  rather 
than  us,  except  so  much  as  we  were  to  receive  for 
the  finding  of  it." 

Winn  spoke  all  the  more  earnestly  because  it  so 
chanced  that  just  at  the  moment  his  mind  was  on  the 
same  subject. 

For  an  instant  it  seemed  as  if  Captain  Jim  was 
about  to  make  some  reply,  and  then  with  an  effort 
he  checked  himself  as  he  said  laughingly : 

"I  don't  reckon  you  and  I  could  settle  that  matter, 
my  boy,  if  we  wanted  to.  It  isn't  yet  certain  Manuel 
hasn't  found  his  people,  and  we  can  have  no  idea 
as  to  what  will  be  his  proposition  in  case  he  fails." 

Winn  fancied  that  the  captain  had  not  spoken  all 
which  was  in  his  mind  as  the  latter  lounged  care- 
lessly forward,  and  now  his  forebodings  of  the  pre- 
vious night  came  back  with  redoubled  force. 

An  hour  after  sunset  it  became  necessary  for  the 
cook  to  go  into  the  galley,  and  while  there  engaged 
old  Manuel  suddenly  appeared  in  the  doorway. 

"How  did  you  get  here?"  Winn  asked  in  sur- 
prise.    "I  didn't  hear  the  men  lower  the  boat." 

"I  was  brought  on  board  by  a  friend." 

"Then  you  found  your  people?" 
w'"No,  and  yet  yes." 

Winn  looked  puzzled,  and  the  old  man  added : 


A   STAKTLING  DISCLOSURE.  45 

**0f  those  who  have  the  right  to  call  themselves 
Aymaras  but  four  remain  alive,  saving  Petro  and 
myself.  It  is  as  if  one  said,  'The  Aymara  race  no 
longer  exists.'  If  Petro  Garcia  still  lives  we  count 
ourselves  as  six,  all  old  men,  whose  time  for  remain- 
ing in  this  world  is  well-nigh  at  an  end,  and  my 
heart  is  sore,  lad." 

Manuel  leaned  heavily  against  the  casing  of  the 
door,  and  Winn  fancied  he  had  aged  many  years 
during  the  thirty  hours  of  his  absence.  He  wished 
most  earnestly  he  could  say  something  soothing ;  but 
the  words  would  not  come  at  his  command,  and  he 
perforce  remained  silent  while  one  might  have 
counted  twenty,  when  Manuel  said  with  a  show  of 
animation : 

*'It  is  better  with  those  who  have  gone  before 
than  for  us  who  remain,  and  I  should  not  sorrow; 
but  I  have  the  feeling  within  me  stronger  than  when 
I  left  Fairhaven,  that  I  shall  not  see  the  end  of  this 
voyage,  and  between  now  and  the  time  of  my  depar- 
ture some  plan  must  be  decided  upon  whereby  you 
will  be  acknowledged  by  our  partners  in  this  adven- 
ture as  my  heir." 

Winn  tried  his  best  to  dispel  the  gloomy  thoughts 
in  the  old  man's  mind,  but  with  no  avail. 

"I  have  consulted  those  of  my  blood,  and  we  shall 
make  a  new  compact  this  night  regarding  the  Ay- 


46      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

mara  treasure.  Do  not  allow  me  to  cause  you  sad- 
ness, lad,  for  when  my  days  draw  near  to  a  close  the 
end  will  be  as  a  relief  and  a  pleasure." 

By  this  time  Captain  Jim  and  Bart  Gerry  came 
forward,  having  learned  that  Manuel  had  returned, 
and  there  was  no  further  opportunity  for  a  private 
conversation  between  the  old  man  and  the  boy  he 
would  make  his  heir,  until  after  certain  business  had 
been  settled  in  the  cabin. 

That  evening  the  four  partners  assembled  aft  in 
obedience  to  Manuel's  request,  and  when  it  had  been 
ascertained  that  the  crew  were  not  where  they  could 
overhear  the  conversation,  Telceda  related  the  re- 
sult of  his  search,  saying  in  conclusion : 

"I  have  talked  with  my  people  about  that  which 
you  agree  to  do,  and  it  is  decided  between  us  that  I 
shall  make  this  proposal  in  the  stead  of  the  one  we 
drew  up  before  leaving  Fairhaven :  The  Aymara 
treasure  will  be  divided  into  nine  parts,  one  for  each 
of  you  three,  and  the  remaining  six  for  those  of  our 
race  who  are  yet  alive.  Should  it  be  that  when  we 
return  some  of  those  whom  I  have  seen  this  day  are 
no  longer  living,  their  shares  shall  be  divided  equally 
among  us  four.  Therefore  it  is  I  say  to  you,  in- 
stead of  one-twentieth  part  for  recovering  the 
wealth,  you  are  to  receive  one-ninth,  and  if  death  has 
visited  our  number,  a  yet  larger  amount.     There 


A   STARTLING   DISCLOSURE.  47 

can  be  no  reason  why  you  should  object  to  changing 
the  compact." 

''I  should  say  not,"  Bart  Gerry  replied  glibly. 
''You  needn't  have  hesitated,  Manuel,  about  making 
any  proposition  which  would  increase  our  portion  of 
the  treasure.  I'll  draw  up  a  new  contract  between 
now  and  this  time  to-morrow,  so  that  it  can  be 
signed,  and  considering  the  length  of  the  voyage 
before  us,  I  should  say  there  was  no  reason  why  we 
remain  here  at  anchor  any  longer." 

"The  wind  will  probably  spring  up  'twixt  now  an' 
morning;  but  until  then  the  schooner  is  bound  to 
stay  where  she  is,"  Captain  Jim  replied. 

'There  is  one  matter  I  want  settled  more  defi- 
nitely than  it  has  been,"  Manuel  said,  heeding  not 
the  interruption  to  the  conversation.  "In  event  of 
my  death,  either  before  the  treasure  has  been  un- 
earthed, or  after,  this  boy,  Winn  Burbridge,  shall 
be  held/ by  you  to  be  my  heir,  and  that  share  which 
would  have  come  to  me  shall  go  to  him  in  addition 
to  his  own." 

"That  part  of  it  will  be  fixed  all  right,"  Bart 
replied  carelessly.  "You  have  repeated  the  same 
thing  half  a  dozen  times  since  we  started,  Manuel, 
and  it  is  well  understood." 

"But  I  want  it  written  down,  and  your  signatures 
attached,  in  as  nearly  a  legal  manner  as  may  be,  so 


48      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

that  should  either  of  you  attempt  to  break  the  prom- 
ises made,  you  can  be  forced  by  law  to  live  up  to  the 
agreement." 

"I'll  fix  it  all  right;  don't  you  worry,  old  man/' 
Bart  replied  with  a  laugh. 

"I  shall  not  worry,  for  I  intend  the  business  be 
done  properly,  and  will  see  that  it  is  in  due  form." 

"So  you  shall,  and  considering  that  we  may  be 
obliged  to  get  under  way  before  sunrise,  I  should  say 
the  wisest  thing  for  all  hands  was  to  turn  in.  I 
for  one  count  on  getting  a  little  sleep  before  we 
begin  the  voyage  which  is  likely  to  run  well  into  a 
year." 

Manuel  went  on  deck  at  once,  and  when  Winn 
followed  him,  said  to  the  boy : 

"You  are  to  go  to  sleep,  lad,  for  slumber  comes 
readily  to  the  eyes  of  the  young,  and  is  needed.  It 
is  well  I  should  be  alone  with  the  memories  which 
will  not  be  banished,  and  by  to-morrow  I  shall  have 
forced  them  down,  when  you  can  no  longer  have 
reason  to  complain  because  I  seem  to  shun  compan- 
ionship." 

Winn  understood  that  it  was  not  well  to  make  any 
reply,  and  turning  quickly  on  his  heel  went  to  the 
berth  assigned  him  in  the  cabin,  fully  intending  to 
get  so  much  of  a  night's  rest  as  might  be  possible 
before  the  "Flying  Scud"  was  gotten  -under  way. 


A   STAETLING  DISCLOSUEE.  49 

It  appeared  to  the  boy  as  if  he  was  more  entirely- 
alone  than  ever,  because  the  one  person  whom  he 
claimed  as  friend  denied  him  the  privilege  of  shar- 
ing his  sorrow,  and  perhaps  it  was  this  which  served 
to  keep  slumber  from  his  eyelids.  Instead  of  imme- 
diately crossing  over  into  dreamland  after  having 
retired,  he  tossed  and  tumbled  about  in  the  narrow 
bunk  until  so  thoroughly  wide  awake  that  it  seemed 
impossible  slumber  would  ever  come  to  his  relief, 
and  thinking  half  an  hour  spent  in  pacing  the  deck 
might  give  him  the  desired  heaviness  of  eyelids,  he 
stole  softly  out,  closing  his  cabin  door  quietly  lest  he 
disturb  the  repose  of  the  captain  and  the  mate. 

His  room  was  at  the  further  end  of  the  small 
saloon,  and  to  gain  the  companion-way  it  was  neces- 
sary that  he  pass  near  the  door  of  the  captain's  cabin. 

When  he  crept  silently  aft  there  was  no  thought  in 
his  mind  of  anything  save  to  avoid  disturbing  those 
who  might  be  sleeping,  but  that  which  was  heard  as 
he  passed  Captain  Jim's  room  caused  him  to  come 
to  a  sudden  halt,  and  for  the  time  being  he  did  not 
realize  he  was  playing  the  eavesdropper,  so  great  was 
the  fear  which  came  upon  him. 

"I  tell  you,  Jim,  there's  no  reason  why  we  should 
let  this  old  Spaniard  or  Indian,  or  whichever  he  may 
be,  dictate  to  us  as  if  we  were  children,"  he  heard 
Bart  say  in  an  angry  tone.     "I'm  ready  to  draw  up 


50      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

and  sign  any  kind  of  an  agreement  he  wants ;  but  as 
for  keeping  it,  that's  another  matter." 

It  was  as  if  Winn's  heart  stood  still  for  an  in- 
stant, and  like  a  flash  came  to  him  the  thought  that 
this  was  but  a  continuation  of  the  discussion  which 
had  aroused  his  forebodings  while  old  Manuel  was 
ashorky^ 

He  was  literally  incapable  of  movement ;  but  stood 
in  front  of  the  door  in  an  attentive  attitude,  even 
while  unconscious  that  he  was  listening,  and  thus 
heard  Captain  Jim's  reply : 

"A  square  man  would  live  up  to  his  promise, 
an*  I  allow  that  the  agreement  we  made  with  old 
Manuel  the  first  night  in  Fairhaven  is  binding 
upon  us." 

"Now,  look  here,  Jim,  don't  make  a  fool  of  your- 
self when  it's  likely  to  cost  so  much  money.  Al- 
lowing the  Aymara  treasure  to  be  where  Manuel  says 
it  is ;  allowing  that  we  find  it  without  difficulty,  an' 
get  it  aboard  this  craft,  are  you  such  an  idiot  as  to 
take  one-ninth  when  we  can  have  the  whole  ?" 

"I  never  have  done  that  which  any  man  could  say 
was  crooked." 

"You  never  had  a  chance  such  as  this.  Your  hon- 
est dealings  have  been  matters  of  a  few  dollars,  and 
this  means  millions,  Jim.  The  treasure  must  be 
ours,  and  as  for  the  pauper  kid  an'  old  Manuel,  it 


A  STAETLING  DISCLOSUEE.  51 

wouldn't  be  any  hard  job  to  leave  them  on  Cocos 
Island." 

"For  the  sake  of  millions  you  would  commit 
murder?" 

"To  maroon  a  couple  like  them  can't  be  called 
murder,  however  much  you  may  stretch  it,  for  if 
what  Manuel  says  regarding  the  island  be  true,  it's 
their  own  fault  if  they  don't  live  as  long  as  the  Lord 
allows.  I  tell  you,  Jim,  if  the  treasure  ever  comes 
on  board  the  'Flying  Scud'  it  must  be  divided 
according  to  our  notions,  if  it  is  divided  at  all.  I 
don't  say  I  wouldn't  give  up  a  few  thousand  dollars, 
but  as  for  throwing  away  eight-ninths,  it's  out  of 
the  question,  and  that  I  hold  to,  whether  you  are 
with  me  or  not." 

Winn  heard  a  slight  noise  as  if  the  speaker,  hav- 
ing thus  announced  his  intentions,  had  risen,  and 
dimly  understanding  it  was  absolutely  necessary  for 
the  safety  of  himself  and  Manuel  that  it  should  not 
be  suspected  he  had  overheard  the  conversation,  he 
crept  swiftly  and  noiselessly  up  the  companion-way 
stairs,  running  forward  in  a  fever  of  excitement, 
trembling  violently. 

Halting  near  the  forecastle-hatch,  he  looked 
around  after  old  Manuel,  the  one  thought  in  his 
mind  being  that  his  friend  must  know  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment  of  Bart  Gerry's  avowed  treachery. 


52      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

No  one  could  be  seen  save  the  man  on  watch,  who 
was  leaning  over  the  starboard  rail  as  if  half  asleep. 

As  Winn  glanced  aft  he  saw  a  form  emerge  from 
the  cabin,  and  believed  the  mate  of  the  "Flying 
Scud"  had  come  on  deck. 

''Where  is  Manuel?" 

He  asked  the  question  of  the  silent  figure  at  the 
rail,  and  received  for  reply : 

"Hob-nobbing  out  there  in  what  the  Injuns  'round 
this  'ere  country  call  a  bungo,"  the  man  replied, 
pointing  in  the  gloom  toward  a  dark  smudge  on  the 
water  so  far  away  that  it  could  hardly  be  distin- 
guished. 

"Did  some  one  come  for  him  ?" 

"Yes,  that  'ere  craft  has  got  four  guys  on  board 
of  her,  an'  you  might  say  any  one  of  'em  was 
Manuel  himself  without  knowing  the  difference. 
They're  as  like  as  peas  in  a  pod.  Accordin'  to  my 
way  of  thinkin'  he  was  expectin'  'em,  for  when  the 
craft  come  alongside  he  dropped  over  the  rail,  and 
there  wasn't  so  much  as  a  yip  from  the  crowd.  If 
it  wasn't  that  we  knowed  the  old  man  was  all  right, 
I'd  say  there  was  some  mischief  brewin',  but  of 
course  there's  no  chance  of  that." 

"Of  course  not,"  Winn  replied  indignantly. 
"Everybody  in  Fairhaven  knows  Manuel  Telceda  to 
be  an  honest  man,  an'  that's  more  than " 


A  STAETLING  DISCLOSURE.  53 

Winn  checked  himself,  and  it  was  high  time,  for 
in  another  moment  the  thoughts  which  were  in  his 
mind  would  have  been  shaped  into  words. 

Then  came  a  hail  from  Bart  Gerry. 

"Who's  that  forward?" 

"Nobody  but  Joe  Savage  and  the  cook,"  the  sailor 
replied. 

"I  thought  you  turned  in  hours  ago,  Winn?"  and 
Gerry  came  forward. 

"I  went  below,  but  couldn't  sleep,  and  so  came  on 
deck,"  the  boy  said  hesitatingly. 

"How  long  ago?" 

"Can't  say,  sir;  but  it  seems  as  though  I  hadn't 
been  in  my  room  but  a  little  while." 

"Where's  Manuel?" 

Winn  repeated  what  the  sailor  had  told  him,  and 
turning  on  his  heel  the  mate  of  the  "Flying  Scud" 
went  aft  again,  much  to  the  relief  of  the  boy  from 
the  Fairhaven  poor-farm. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MANUEL^S    DEATH. 

Winn  remained  on  deck  an  hour  longer,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  neither  had  Manuel  returned, 
nor  the  wind  freshened  sufficiently  to  admit  of  the 
"Flying  Scud's"  departure. 

Excited  though  he  was  by  the  knowledge  of  what 
Bart  Gerry  was  willing  to  do,  his  eyes  were  heavy 
with  slumber,  and  there  seemed  no  good  reason  why 
he  should  not  indulge  in  the  desire  for  sleep. 

Many  months  must  necessarily  elapse  before  the 
schooner  could  arrive  at  the  island  where  the 
Aymara  treasure  had  been  hidden,  and  it  seemed  at 
the  moment  to  be  of  but  little  importance  whether 
the  old  man  was  made  acquainted  with  the  proposed 
treachery  of  the  mate  then  or  a  week  later. 

"A  new  agreement  can't  be  drawn  till  to-morrow, 
and  I'll  have  a  chance  to  speak  with  Manuel  the  first 
thing  in  the  morning,"  he  said  to  himself  as  he  went 
below. 

No  sound  could  be  heard  as  he  made  his  way 
through  the  cabin,  save  the  heavy  breathing  of  the 

54 


MANUEL'S  DEATH.  55 

captain  and  mate,  and  he  understood  that  Bart's 
plottings  were  at  an  end,  for  this  night  at  least. 

His  eyes  closed  almost  immediately  after  he  was 
stretched  at  full  length  in  his  bunk,  and  he  was  con- 
scious of  nothing  more  until  the  violent  lurching  of 
the  schooner  threw  him  against  the  bulkhead. 

This  decidedly  rude  awakening- was  sufficient  evi- 
dence that  the  'Tlying  Scud"  was  at  last  under  way 
on  a  voyage  which,  barring  accidents,  would  not 
come  to  an  end  until  she  had  ploughed  through  the 
world  of  waters  that  lay  between  the  Caribbean  Sea 
and  the  Indian  Ocean.  ^ 

It  was  daylight  and  high  time  the  cook  should  be 
in  the  galley. 

Thanks  to  his  experience  as  a  fisherman,  Winn 
found  his  sea-legs  very  speedily,  even  though  the 
schooner  was  making  decidedly  heavy  weather  of  it, 
and,  contrary  to  his  expectations,  he  did  not  meet 
Manuel  in  the  galley. 

Every  morning  since  they  left  Fairhaven  the  old 
man  had  been  first  at  Winn's  post  of  duty;  but  there 
seemed  to  be  good  and  sufficient  reason  for  his  ab- 
sence at  this  time. 

"He  was  up  all  night  with  his  people,  most  likely, 
for  I  don't  reckon  he  came  on  board  till  just  before 
we  got  under  way,"  the  boy  said  to  himself  as  he  set 
about  the  work  of  the  day,  and  not  until  the  crew 


56      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

had  been  served  with  breakfast  did  he  realize  that 
there  was  something  odd,  to  say  the  least,  in  old 
Manuel's  tardiness. 

Then  a  sudden  fear  seized  upon  him.  Remember- 
ing the  threatening  words  he  had  heard  from  the 
captain's  cabin,  the  thought  flashed  into  his  mind 
that  possibly  Bart  Gerry  had  been  more  than  willing 
to  leave  the  old  man  behind  in  order  to  possess  him- 
self of  all  the  treasure. 

That  the  acting  mate  of  the  "Flying  Scud"  would 
commit  a  deadly  crime  in  order  to  enrich  himself, 
Winn  did  not  really  believe,  even  though  he  had 
good  reason  for  knowing  the  man  to  be  unscrupu- 
lous to  the  last  degree. 

Before  doing  more  toward  preparing  the  breakfast 
to  be  served  in  the  cabin  than  the  making  of  coffee, 
Winn  went  to  old  Manuel's  cabin,  knocked  gently  at 
the  door,  and  experienced  the  deepest  sense  of  relief 
when  he  heard  the  summons  to  enter. 

An  instant  later  that  relief  was  changed  to  alarm, 
for  a  single  glance  at  the  old  man's  face  as  he  lay  in 
the  bunk  told  of  sudden  and  severe  illness. 

"Are  you  sick?"  Winn  cried  nervously,  and  the 
reply  was  not  reassuring. 

"I  fear  that  that  which  I  anticipated  has  come 
even  sooner  than  I  thought  probable." 

"What  do  you  mean?"    And  kneeling  by  the  side 


MANUEL'S  DEATH.  57 

of  the  bunk  that  he  might  the  better  steady  himself 
against  the  violent  motions  of  the  schooner,  Winn 
clasped  the  old  man's  hands. 

"I  am  sick,  lad,  sick  unto  death,  and  it  is  well  the 
details  of  the  business  should  be  settled  with  the  cap- 
tain and  mate  at  once." 

"But  surely  you  cannot  be  in  any  danger  of  death 
so  suddenly.  What  happened  before  you  came  on 
board?  Joe  Savage  told  me  your  friends  put  out 
from  the  shore  in  some  kind  of  a  craft  and  showed 
me  what  he  said  was  the  boat." 

"Yes,  I  saw  them  again  after  speaking  with  you, 
and  perhaps  the  meeting  with  them,  the  knowledge 
that  I  am  almost  the  last  of  my  race,  and  the  parting, 
adds  to  the  illness  which  has  overtaken  me.  I  am 
an  old  man,  lad,  older  in  body  than  in  years.  All 
those  whom  I  have  loved  have  long  since  gone  be- 
fore, and  with  this  business  brought  to  a  proper  end- 
ing, I  can  but  rejoice  that  the  time  has  come  for  me 
to  join  my  friends.  Robinson  and  Gerry  must  give 
you  such  a  writing  as  will  prove  your  claim  to  a  cer- 
tain portion  of  the  treasure,  and  then  I  may  go  out 
of  the  world  knowing  that  by  having  lived  in  it  I 
have  made  at  least  one  person  happier." 

As  the  old  man  spoke  he  seemed  to  grow  brighter, 
and  Winn,  eager  to  catch  at  any  ray  of  hope  how- 
ever small,  began  to  fancy  Manuel  had  exaggerated 


58      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

his  illness — that  all  which  he  had  passed  through 
since  the  schooner  came  to  anchor  off  the  Venez- 
uelan coast  had  so  worked  upon  his  mind  that  he 
fancied  death  to  be  near  at  hand,  while  it  was  yet  far 
in  the  future. 

Therefore  it  was  he  refrained  from  telling  that 
which  he  had  heard  Bart  Gerry  say  to  the  captain. 

Surely  at  such  a  time  it  would  not  be  well  to  dis- 
turb old  Manuel's  mind  more  than  it  had  already 
been,  and  no  real  good  could  result  from  repeating 
the  threats. 

"Call  Captain  Robinson,  lad.  Even  though  I  be 
not  as  ill  as  now  seems  positive,  it  is  well  we  have 
the  business  matters  settled — well  for  me  and  neces- 
sary for  your  interest." 

Winn  obeyed  at  once  by  going  on  deck,  where  he 
knew  Captain  Jim  to  be,  and  there  said  hurriedly : 

"Manuel  is  sick,  sir — believes  himself  to  be  dying, 
and  insists  that  the  agreement  in  regard  to  the 
Aymara  treasure  shall  be  made  at  once." 

"Sick,  eh?"  And  Captain  Jim  looked  so  thor- 
oughly disturbed  that  Winn  felt  positive  he  had  not 
agreed  to  the  base  proposal  of  the  unscrupulous 
mate. 

"He  is  lying  in  his  bunk,  sir,  an'  can't  seem  19 
get  up." 

"I'll  come  down  at  once,  and  in  the  meantime,  if  it 


MANUEL'S   DEATH.  59 

will  do  the  old  man  any  good  to  have  the  writings 
made,  tell  Mr.  Gerry  that  he  is  wanted." 

Winn  went  to  the  mate's  room  and  there  repeated 
what  he  had  said  to  the  captain,  adding  to  it  the 
message  he  had  been  instructed  to  deliver. 

"I  don't  reckon  he's  very  sick,"  the  mate  grum- 
bled, impatient  because  his  slumbers  were  thus  dis- 
turbed. "He's  a  reg'lar  old  maid,  an'  likely  to  be- 
lieve himself  dyin'  when  another  man  would  be 
hustlin'  'round  at  work.  Out  too  late  last  night,  an' 
serves  him  right  if  he's  got  cramps  this  morning." 

"The  captain  told  me  to  say  that  you  were  to  write 
the  agreement  at  once."  C^ 

"It's  a  waste  of  time,  an'  can't  do  the  old  fellow 
any  good;  but  if  Captain  Jim  insists  on  it,  I  s'pose 
we  may  as  well  go  through  the  form.  What  is  it  he 
wants  ?" 

"Will  you  go  an'  ask  him,  sir?" 

"No ;  find  out  what  he  wants  me  to  write,  an'  I'll 
do  it.  There's  no  reason  why  I  should  be  disturbed 
while  it's  my  watch  below." 

Winn  returned  to  Manuel's  room,  almost  fearing 
lest  he  should  find  the  old  man  unable  to  speak ;  but 
to  his  great  relief  there  had  been  no  apparent 
change,  and  again  hope  sprang  up  in  his  heart.  Per- 
haps Bart  Gerry  was  right ;  perhaps  this  supposedly 
serious  sickness  was  but  a  slight  indisposition  which 


60      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

would  speedily  wear  away,  and  there  was  a  cheery 
ring  in  the  boy's  tone  as  he  said : 

"The  captain  will  come  right  down  to  see  you,  an' 
the  mate  is  goin'  to  make  out  the  agreement  after 
you  tell  me  what  he  shall  write.  I'll  bring  a  cup  of 
coffee,  an'  perhaps  you  will  feel  better  after  drinkin' 
it." 

"You  may  do  so  if  you  choose,  lad ;  but  first  go  to 
Gerry  and  tell  him  to  set  down  that  which  I  said  yes- 
terday, stating  also  in  the  same  document  that  you 
are  to  be  considered  by  him  and  the  captain  as  my 
heir,  and  both  of  them  are  to  agree — solemnly  agree 
— to  protect  your  rights  in  event  of  my  death  before 
the  voyage  is  ended." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"Yes,  lad,  all  until  this  business  has  been  settled, 
and  then  you  are  to  come  to  me  when  we  can  be 
alone." 

"Of  course  I  shall  stay  with  you  every  moment  I 
can." 

"It  is  not  necessary  you  should  remain  here  while 
needed  in  the  galley,  lad ;  but  I  must  speak  with  you 
after  the  writings  have  been  signed,  because  through 
you  alone  I  trust  that  their  portion  of  the  Aymara 
treasure  will  be  delivered  to  those  of  my  people  who 
yet  remain  alive.  Go  now,  my  boy,  for  there  must 
be  no  delay." 


MANUEL'S   DEATH.  61 

The  command  was  obeyed,  and  on  passing 
through  the  saloon  it  could  be  seen  that  the  mate  had 
already  begun  work  on  the  document  Manuel  be- 
lieved to  be  so  important,  but  which  Winn  felt  posi- 
tive would  be  of  no  avail  if  it  should  be  possible  for 
Bart  Gerry  to  break  it. 

"You  had  better  serve  breakfast  here  as  soon  as 
you  can,"  the  mate  said  when  the  cook  entered  the 
saloon.  "It  will  take  me  a  couple  of  hours  to  write 
out  all  the  old  fool  seems  to  think  is  necessary  should 
be  set  down,  therefore  the  signin'  of  this  very 
precious  document  won't  take  place  till  near  noon, 
'  an'  in  the  meantime  the  work  on  board  must  be  done 
just  the  same  as  if  he  had  not  gotten  this  ridiculous 
fancy  into  his  head." 

Before  obeying  this  command  Winn  made  a  cup 
of  coffee  for  the  sick  man  and  carried  it  below. 

To  his  great  satisfaction  Manuel  drank  it  almost 
eagerly,  and  the  boy  asked  if  the  captain  had  paid 
the  promised  visit. 

"He  came  just  after  you  left,  lad,  and  seemed 
very  kind.  If  Gerry  was  the  same  sort  of  man  I 
should  have  less  fear  as  to  what  might  be  done  after 
I  have  gone.  Be  on  your  guard  against  the  mate, 
who  will  defraud  you,  as  well  as  my  people,  if  he 
can.  Although  I  shall  not  be  there  when  you  land 
on  Cocos  Island,  I  hope  that  by  following  my  in- 


62      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

structions  you  may  be  able  to  hold  him  to  his  written 
word.  When  the  document  has  been  signed,  you 
are  to  take  possession  of  it,  and  be  certain,  lad,  that 
you  do  not  let  it  out  of  your  keeping.  Unless  Petro 
has  been  to  Cocos  within  the  past  two  years,  the 
Aymara  treasure  will  be  found  as  we  left  it.  If  it  is 
taken  on  board  this  vessel,  and  the  amount  set  down 
in  the  agreement  is  delivered  to  my  people  and  your- 
self, all  will  be  well.  In  case  Gerry  should  break  his 
solemn  word  and  attempt  to  deprive  you  and  the 
descendants  of  the  Incas  of  your  lawful  rights,  seek 
out  Petro  Garcia.  He  knows  that  you  are  the  only 
person  in  Fairhaven  whom  I  looked  upon  as  a 
friend,  and  will  believe  all  you  say." 

''But  if  Gerry  should  succeed  in  takin'  possession 
of  all  the  gold,  an'  I  do  not  see  how  I  could  prevent 
him  if  he  was  so  disposed,  what  might  this  Petro  do 
to  oppose  it?" 

"Although  my  people  are  few  in  numbers,  yet  are 
they  strong  after  a  certain  fashion  which  you  may 
not  understand  now,  and  should  this  man  Gerry 
prove  false  to  the  word  which  he  is  to  pledge  in  the 
presence  of  a  dying  man,  his  punishment  will  be  as 
certain  as  it  will  be  great." 

Never  before  had  Winn  heard  the  old  man  speak 
in  such  a  tone,  and  he  was  awed,  although  it  would 
have  been  difficult  for  him  to  explain  exactly  why. 


MANUEL'S  DEATH. 


63 


{f%/^r^^^' 


^S/ir'^^^ 


."/>. 


64      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Manuel  took  from  beneath  the  mattress  of  the 
bunk  a  folded  document, 

''Here  is  the  chart  which  Petro  and  I  made/* 
Manuel  continued,  speaking  in  his  usual  manner. 
"It  was  a  copy  of  this  which  I  gave  Captain  Robin- 
son. If  Petro  should  doubt  that  you  have  full  power 
to  represent  me  in  the  matter  of  the  Aymara  treasure 
after  my  death,  the  paper  will  convince  him  of  the 
truth  of  your  statement." 

Gerry's  voice  from  the  cabin  summoned  Winn, 
and  as  he  answered  the  call  the  mate  said  impa- 
tiently : 

"There's  no  reason  why  you  should  fool  away 
your  time  when  there's  work  to  be  done.  Get  the 
cabin  breakfast  ready  in  short  order,  or  you'll  have 
trouble  with  me." 

The  threatening  tone  surprised  the  boy,  for  until 
this  moment  Bart  Gerry  had  treated  him  as  an  equal 
— almost  a  friend,  and  as  he  went  hurriedly  toward 
the  galley  in  obedience  to  the  command  he  began  to 
realize  what  would  probably  be  his  position  on  board 
the  "Flying  Scud"  if  Manuel  should  be  summoned 
to  his  fathers. 

Half  an  hour  later  breakfast  was  served,  but  the 
cook  had  no  desire  to  partake  of  the  meal. 

Instead  of  remaining  at  the  table  he  went  into 
Manuel's  room,  and  there  stayed,  although  it  was  not 


MANUEL'S   DEATH.  65 

possible  for  him  to  be  of  any  assistance  to  the  sick 
man,  until  the  captain  and  mate  entered  with  the 
document  in  question. 

"I  don't  allow  there's  any  reason  why  this  thing 
had  to  be  made  up  to-day,"  Gerry  said  in  a  tone  of 
irritation ;  "but  here  it  is,  an'  Captain  Jim  an'  myself 
have  both  written  our  names  at  the  bottom,  so  I  take 
it  for  granted  the  business  is  settled." 

''Read  it  to  me,"  and  Manuel  raised  himself  on  his 
elbow. 

''You've  got  lots  of  time  to  do  that  for  yourself. 
What's  the  sense  of  my  bothering?" 

"Because  both  the  boy  and  I  must  hear  from  your 
own  mouth  that  which  you  promised." 

Gerry  would  have  refused ;  in  fact,  he  turned  as  if 
to  leave  the  cabin,  but  Captain  Jim  stopped  him  by 
saying : 

"It's  no  more  than  right,  Bart,  you  should  do  as 
he  asks.  The  bargain  is  a  fair  one  between  us  four, 
and  if  all  old  Manuel  has  told  us  be  true,  we  shall  be 
made  rich  through  him.  Read  your  paper  like  a 
man." 

Those  who  knew  Captain  Jim  Robinson  as  did 
Bart,  understood  when  he  spoke  in  such  a  tone  that 
he  would  be  obeyed,  and,  although  the  mate  was 
under  his  command  only  in  name,  he  did  not  deem  it 
advisable  to  refuse. 


GQ      THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

With  a  decided  show  of  ill-temper  he  stood  near 
the  bull's-eye  as  if  the  light  was  too  dim  to  admit  of 
his  deciphering  the  written  words  readily,  and  old 
Manuel  said  sharply : 

"Look  over  his  shoulder,  lad,  as  he  reads.  I  want 
to  make  certain  every  word  which  he  utters  is  set 
down  on  the  paper." 

''You  must  think  I'm  a  chump  if  I'd  attempt  to 
read  a  word  that  isn't  down  here !"  Bart  cried,  and 
giving  no  heed  to  the  mate's  angry  reply,  Winn  did 
as  he  was  directed. 

Then  Bartholomew  Gerry  read  with  unnecessary 
emphasis  the  following : 

"We,  the  undersigned,  hereby  covenant  and  agree 
with  Manuel  Telceda,  late  of  Fairhaven,  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey  and  the  United  States  of  America, 
that  we  will  fit  out  with  all  necessary  stores,  provide 
with  a  competent  crew,  and  navigate  to  the  Island  of 
Cocos,  in  latitude  12°  5'  S.,  longitude  90°  55'  E.,  the 
schooner  'Flying  Scud,'  and  there  dig  in  the  earth, 
according  to  his  instructions  and  with  due  reference 
to  the  chart  which  he  has  this  day  given  us,  for  the 
purpose  of  unearthing  the  so-called  Aymara  treasure. 

"We  further  agree  and  solemnly  bind  ourselves 
that,  in  event  of  our  discovering  said  treasure  on  the 
said  island  of  Cocos,  we  will  deliver  to  him  or  his 


MANUEL'S   DEATH.  67 

heirs  one-ninth  of  all  the  treasure  so  unearthed  by  us, 
and  to  Winslow  Burbridge  we  will  deliver  one-ninth 
of  the  said  treasure,  and  to  Petro  Garcia  we  will  de- 
liver one-ninth  of  the  said  treasure,  and  to  each  of 
four  other  persons  whom  Petro  Garcia  shall  desig- 
nate we  will  deliver  one-ninth. 

"And  it  is  also  mutually  agreed  and  understood 
that  we,  the  undersigned,  shall  hold  for  ourselves,  to 
repay  us  for  the  money  which  we  have  expended  and 
for  the  use  of  the  said  schooner  'Flying  Scud,'  two- 
ninths  of  the  said  treasure,  if  found  in  accordance  with 
the  information  given  us  by  the  said  Manuel  Telceda. 

"In  order  that  this  agreement  may  be  more  plain, 
it  is  here  repeated  that  if  we,  the  undersigned,  find 
the  said  treasure  in  accordance  with  the  information 
given  by  the  said  Manuel  Telceda,  it  shall  be  equally 
and  fairly  divided  into  nine  portions,  two  portions 
of  which  we  retain  for  our  own  purposes  and  the  re- 
maining seven  portions  to  be  delivered  as  hereinbe- 
fore stated. 

"Signed  on  board  the  schooner  Tlying  Scud'  this 
seventh  day  of  June,  1880. 

"James  Robinson, 
"Bartholomew  Gerry.^'' 

"Is  that  what  you  want?"  the  mate  asked  petu- 
lantly as  he  ceased  reading. 


68      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"So  far  as  it  goes,  yes,"  Manuel  replied.  "You 
have  not  set  down  that,  in  event  of  my  death,  the 
portion  which  should  come  to  me  shall  be  given  to 
the  boy,  and  that  he  be  considered  my  heir,  you  pro- 
tecting him  so  far  as  may  be  in  your  power  in  the 
holding  of  whatever  money  or  property  would  be 
mine  were  I  alive." 

"Well,  now  you're  getting  a  little  beyond  me.  I 
reckon  you'd  better  repeat  what  you  want,  an'  I'll 
write  it  down  an'  sign  it  over  again.  Anything  to 
please  you,  an'  while  you're  about  it,  you  ought  to 
name  the  others  to  whom  the  four  portions  are  to  be 
given,  else  how  shall  we  find  'em  ?  We  can  anchor 
off  the  coast  of  Venezuela  an'  pick  up  a  lot  of  natives 
who  don't  dare  show  themselves  in  daylight." 

"I  have  written  down  for  the  boy  the  names  of 
my  people,  with  full  directions  how  to  find  them 
after  I  am  dead ;  therefore  you  need  give  yourself  no 
uneasiness  on  that  score.     Now  write." 

It  was  necessary  the  mate  should  first  bring  into 
the  cabin  pens  and  ink.  After  this  was  done  he  sat 
down  and  at  old  Manuel's  dictation  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing addendum  to  the  agreement : 

"We,  James  Robinson  and  Bartholomew  Gerry,  of 
Fairhaven,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey  and  United 
States  of  America,  do  hereby  solemnly  bind  our- 


MANUEKS  DEATH.  69 

selves  to  protect  in  every  possible  way  the  boy,  Winn 
Burbridge,  now  acting  as  cook  on  board  the  schooner 
'Flying  Scud/  both  in  his  own  rights  and  as  the 
heir  of  Manuel  Telceda,  late  of  Fairhaven,  in  the 
said  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  we  also  solemnly  bind 
ourselves  to  obey  his  instructions  in  the  disposal  of 
the  Aymara  treasure  as  we  would  obey  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  said  Manuel  Telceda  were  he  alive." 

"Now  both  of  you  sign  that  and  the  business  will 
have  been  finished,/'  the  old  man  said  as  he  sank  back 
on  the  pillow  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 

Gerry  wrote  his  name  hurriedly,  and  passing  the 
pen  to  the  captain,  went  out  of  the  cabin,  muttering 
as  he  did  so : 

^,'*If  we  are  to  take  part  in  such  flummery  as  this 
every  time  the  old  man  has  an  attack  of  indigestion 
we  may  as  well  give  up  trying  to  attend  to  the 
schooner  and  devote  our  time  to  him." 

Captain  Jim  signed  his  name  more  deliberately 
and  then  handed  the  document  to  Winn. 

"Perhaps  you'd  better  take  care  of  it,  lad,  until  the 
old  man's  feelin'  better.  I  don't  reckon  he's  any- 
where near  his  death,  an'  hope  most  sincerely  he 
isn't.  Make  some  kind  of  broth  for  him,  an'  he'll 
be  more  chipper  by  noon." 

Then  he  in  turn  went  out,  and  Manuel  drew  from 


70      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

beneath  the  bed  coverings  several  pages  of  paper 
closely  covered  with  writing. 

•'Take  these,  my  boy,  an'  put  them  with  the  paper 
the  captain  and  the  mate  have  signed.  After  I  am 
dead  you  can  read  it.  Perhaps  it  would  be  well  to 
make  me  some  broth." 

Winn  put  the  document  in  his  pocket  carelessly 
and  would  have  left  the  room  at  once  but  that  the 
old  man  said : 

"Look  well  to  those  papers,  lad,  and  before  doing 
anything  else,  see  that  they  are  put  where  it  will  be 
impossible  for  Bart  Gerry  to  find  them." 

"I  reckon  I  know  of  a  place  in  the  galley  where 
he  won't  be  likely  to  stick  his  nose,"  Winn  replied, 
cheerily,  and  immediately  went  on  deck  to  prepare 
the  broth  as  had  been  suggested. 

Half  an  hour  later  he  returned,  bearing  a  bowl  of 
steaming  liquid,  which  he  hoped  would  prove  pala- 
table to  the  sick  man ;  but  it  dropped  from  his  hands 
as  he  entered  the  cabin,  while  a  cry  of  pain  and  sor- 
row escaped  his  lips. 

Manuel  Telceda  had  embarked  on  his  last  jour- 
ney, across  the  dark  river  on  the  other  side  of  which 
awaited  his  fathers,  and  to  them  he  could  say  that 
he  had,  while  on  this  earth,  done  his  best  to  restore 
to  its  rightful  owners  the  treasure  of  the  Aymaras. 


*'  Look  well  to  those  papers,  lad,"  said  Manuel,  "and  see  that  they  are  put 
where  Bart  (Jerry  cau^t  find  them.""— Page  70. 

The  Treasure  of  Cocoa  Island. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  mate's  tyranny. 

Winn  was  hardly  conscious  of  what  occurred  dur- 
ing several  days  following  Manuel  Telceda's  death. 

He  had  never  before  been  brought  into  close  con- 
tact with  death,  and  that  his  only  friend  should  have 
been  stricken  down  filled  him  with  a  horror  from 
which  he  could  not  escape,  try  as  he  might. 

During  twenty-four  hours  even  Bart  Gerry  was 
subdued.  He  went  about  his  duties  quietly,  ceased 
to  bully  the  men  and  shunned  the  cabin. 

Some  one  of  the  crew,  Winn  never  knew  who, 
took  his  place  in  the  galley  until  after  that  most  im- 
pressive of  all  services — a  burial  at  sea — and  when 
the  body  had  been  consigned  to  the  deep  the  boy 
secluded  himself  in  his  own  room,  as  if  he  no  longer 
had  any  purpose  in  life. 

Once,  while  his  grief  was  keenest,  Bart  opened  the 
cabin  door  and  asked  sharply  ''if  he  counted  on 
shirking  his  work" ;  but  before  Winn  had  time  to  re- 
ply Captain  Jim  cried  from  the  companion-way : 

"Leave  the  boy  alone,  Bart !  I  reckon  we  can  get 
on  without  him  for  a  spell  yet,  an'  it  is  only  natural 
he  should  want  to  be  by  himself." 

71 


72      THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

One  or  another  of  the  sailors  brought  food  to  the 
grief-stricken  lad,  and  finally  the  captain  visited  him, 
saying  in  a  kindly  tone  as  he  shook  Winn  with  a  cer- 
tain rough  tenderness : 

''See  here,  lad,  this  moping  is  doing  you  more 
harm  than  good.  I  allow  the  sudden  death  was 
enough  to  give  you  a  bad  turn,  as  it  did  all  of  us ;  but 
such  things  must  happen  sooner  or  later,  and  those 
left  behind  are  bound,  for  their  own  sakes,  to  brace 
up.  Get  on  deck  now  an'  go  to  work.  It's  time  you 
looked  after  the  cookin',  for  we've  been  on  mighty 
short  rations  since  all  hands  have  had  a  turn  at  it." 

Then  Captain  Jim  led  the  boy  to  the  companion- 
way,  and  as  the  latter  ascended  the  stairs  Bart  Gerry 
met  him. 

"So  you  condescended  to  show  yourself,  eh?  If 
you'd  stayed  below  much  longer  I'd  had  you  out,  no 
matter  what  Jim  Robinson  might  say.  Now  get 
into  the  galley,  and  if  there's  any  sojerin'  after  this 
you'll  have  an  account  to  settle  with  me." 

Perhaps  Winn  needed  something  of  this  kind  to 
arouse  him  to  a  sense  of  his  duty,  for  certain  it  is 
that  the  mate's  brutal  threats  did  more  toward  en- 
abling the  boy  to  "pull  himself  together"  than  had 
the  captain's  kindly  words. 

There  certainly  was  plenty  of  work  for  the  cap- 
tain of  the  galley. 


THE   MATE'S   TYEANNY.     -  73 

The  cook's  quarters  were  in  a  fine  state  of  con- 
fusion, as  might  have  been  expected  when  one  sailor 
after  another  had  ''taken  his  trick"  at  preparing  the 
food.  .The  cooking  utensils  had  been  thrown  in  the 
most  convenient  places,  without  regard  to  cleanli- 
ness or  order,  and  more  than  a  single  day  would  be 
necessary  in  order  to  set  the  galley  to  rights. 

At  first  it  seemed  impossible  that  Winn  could  even 
so  much  as  remain  in  a  place  where  everything  re- 
minded him  of  the  man  who  had  gone ;  but  he  forced 
himself  to  the  work,  and  from  that  time  forth  during 
the  long  voyage  both  the  occupants  of  the  cabin  and 
of  the  forecastle  were  served  with  due  regularity. 

During  a  week  or  ten  days  after  Manuel's  death 
Bart  Gerry  contented  himself  with  strictly  demand- 
ing such  work  as  would  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  a 
professional  cook,  but  when  such  time  had  expired 
it  seemed  as  if  his  one  delight  was  in  trying  to  over- 
task both  the  strength  and  the  temper  of  old 
Manuel's  heir. 

For  a  while  he  was  careful  not  to  bully  the  lad 
when  Captain  Jim  could  overhear  him,  but  as  time 
wore  on  it  apparently  made  no  difference  whether 
the  master  of  the  'Tlying  Scud"  approved  or  dis- 
approved of  his  methods. 

There  was  hardly  an  hour  in  the  day  when  he  did 
not  come  to  the  galley  to  threaten  the  direst  punish- 


74      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

ment  if  the  meal  in  hand  was  not  served  promptly  or 
the  food  not  prepared  in  a  more  appetizing  manner. 

That  he  had  no  right,  in  his  position  as  mate  of 
the  vessel,  to  so  bully  and  abuse,  Winn  und*erstood 
perfectly  well,  and  therefore  the  boy  could  assign  but 
one  reason  for  such  brutal  behavior. 

This  was  partially  guessed  by  Joe  Savage,  who 
said  one  morning  as  he  was  lounging  near  the 
galley : 

*!  can't  make  out,  lad,  why  the  mate  bears  down 
on  you  so  hard.  It  is  agin  all  rhyme  and  reason  for 
the  first  officer  of  a  craft  to  meddle  with  the  cook, 
unless  there's  serious  cause  for  complaint.  Me  an' 
my  mates  are  allowin'  that  he's  tryin'  to  drive  you 
into  what  he  can  call  mutiny,  though  why  he  should 
want  to  do  that  is  more  than  I'm  able  to  figger." 

"So  long  as  he  uses  no  more  than  his  tongue,  I 
suppose  I  can  stand  it,"  Winn  replied,  his  face  flush- 
ing as  he  remembered  the  words  of  abuse  which  had 
that  very  morning  been  heaped  upon  him ;  "but  if  he 
should  attempt  to  beat  me,  as  he  has  threatened,  I'm 
afraid  I  couldn't  keep  my  temper." 

"It  would  never  do  to  raise  your  hand  agin  him, 
lad.  No  matter  how  much  a  sailor  is  cuffed  an' 
kicked  'round,  jest  as  soon  as  he  shows  he's  got  the 
spirit  of  a  man  he's  set  down  for  a  mutinous  villain, 
an'  any  judge  on  shore  would  send  him  to  jail  for  so 


/ 


THE   MATE'S   TYKANNY.  75 

much  as  raisin'  a  hand.  Did  you  ever  have  any 
trouble  with  Gerry  before  you  shipped  ?'' 

''Although  we  both  belonged  in  Fairhaven,  I 
hardly  knew  him.  He  is  a  man  who  never  had 
much  to  say  to  the  boys,  and  took  no  notice  of  me 
who  lived  at  the  poor-farm." 

'Then  why  does  he  jump  down  on  you  so  hard?" 
Joe  asked,  as  if  to  himself.  "I  can't  see  but  that 
you're  doin'  your  duty  as  well  as  any  cook  I  ever 
saw,  except  it  may  be  in  the  matter  of  plum-duff,  an' 
there  you're  a  little  off,  as  might  be  expected.  Me 
an'  my  mates  have  made  up  our  minds  that  he's 
tryin'  to  drive  you  into  what  he'll  call  mutiny, 
though  why  we  can't  say." 

Several  times  since  Manuel's  death  had  Winn  be- 
lieved he  could  answer  such  a  question.  Now  that 
he  owned,  in  accordance  with  the  agreement  signed 
by  the  captain  and  the  mate,  two  full  shares  of  the 
treasure  if  it  should  be  found,  it  was  quite  reasonable 
to  suppose  Gerry  hoped  to  goad  him  into  some  overt 
act,  whereby  he  could  be  set  ashore  at  the  most  con- 
venient port,  charged  with  mutinous  conduct. 

By  so  doing  the  treasure-seekers  would  rid  them- 
selves of  a  partner  who  could  be  of  little  real  service 
in  the  venture,  and  no  one  left  to  raise  his  voice 
against  any  disposal  of  the  wealth  which  might  be 
made. 


76      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

But,  even  after  having  made  this  explanation  to 
himself,  Winn  was  not  satisfied  with  it,  for  he  knew 
full  well  that  such  a  man  as  Gerry  would  pay  no  heed 
to  anything  he  might  say,  and  if  it  was  in  his  mind 
to  hold  all  the  treasure  in  case  it  was  discovered,  the 
boy's  presence  on  the  scene  would  not  deter  him. 

As  a  matter  of  course  neither  Joe  Savage  nor  his 
mates  could  argue  the  case  from  such  a  standpoint, 
because  as  yet  the  crew  were  wholly  ignorant  as  to 
the  purpose  of  the  voyage.  They  had  been  told  that 
the  "Flying  Scud"  was  bound  for  certain  islands  in 
the  Indian  Ocean  on  a  trading  venture,  and  this 
seemed  reasonable  in  view  of  the  large  amount  of 
goods  which  had  been  put  on  board. 

Barrels  of  flour,  biscuit,  and  cases  of  canned  meats 
were  inscribed  with  the  names  of  various  goods  such 
as  would  be  used  on  a  trading-voyage,  solely  with 
the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  gossips  of  Fairhaven, 
who  would  have  wondered  greatly  had  they  sup- 
posed the  entire  cargo  of  the  schooner  was  composed 
of  stores  for  the  crew. 

Therefore,  as  has  been  stated,  the  sailors  believed 
they  had  shipped  simply  for  an  ordinary  venture, 
and  if  such  was  the  case  they  could  form  no  idea  as 
to  why  the  mate  should  wish  to  be  rid  of  a  cook  who 
thus  far  had  given  almost  perfect  satisfaction. 

Since  the  death  of  old  Manuel,  Winn  had  reflected 


THE  MATE'S   TYRANNY.  77 

long  and  deeply  upon  his  position  on  board  the  'Tly- 
ing  Scud,"  and  had  said  to  himself  again  and  again 
that  he  would  not  allow  himself  to  show  signs  of  in- 
subordination, save,  perhaps,  in  case  of  absolute  and 
excessive  cruelty. 

He  firmly  believed  in  the  existence  of  the  Aymara 
treasure  as  described  by  the  descendant  of  the  Incas, 
and  held  it  as  a  solemn  duty  he  owed  to  the  dead 
man  to  retain  his  place  among  the  partners  in  the 
venture,  that  Manuel's  people  might  receive  a  due 
share  of  the  money  hidden  by  their  ancestors. 

On  this  day  when  Joe  Savage  spoke  to  Winn  in 
regard  to  the  mate's  treatment,  Gerry  had  been  more 
than  usually  abusive,  and  after  dinner  was  brought 
into  the  cabin  pretended  that  the  meat  was  not 
cooked  properly. 

Using  this  as  a  pretext,  he  berated  the  cook  in 
vilest  language,  and  concluded  by  striking  Winn 
such  a  blow  full  in  the  face  as  sent  him  headlong  to 
the  deck. 

"Don't  you  do  that  again!"  Winn  cried  as  he 
leaped  nimbly  to  his  feet,  taking  good  care  to  retreat 
to  a  safe  distance,  prepared  to  defend  himself.  "You 
know  why  I  shipped,  and  you've  got  no  right  to  treat 
me  as  you  have  been  doing  since  Manuel  died.  I 
don't  count  on  letting  you  drive  me  into  what  sailors 
call  mutiny,  as  I  believe  you  are  trying  to  do,  but 


78      THE  TKEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

shall  stand  up  for  my  rights  as  I  would  if  Fd  been 
really  hired  as  cook  on  board  this  schooner." 

"How  dare  you  make  talk  to  me  ?"  And  the  mate 
advanced  upon  the  boy  in  a  fury. 

"I  haven't  done  so  before,  Bart  Gerry;  but  we  are 
alone  now,  and  it  is  time  we  came  to  an  understand- 
ing," Winn  replied  as  he  assumed  a  position  of  de- 
fense. ''Since  Manuel  Telceda  died  you've  abused 
me  without  cause  every  time  you  came  near  the  gal- 
ley, and  have  even  walked  from  the  wheel  to  do  so 
when  you  have  had  nothing  better  on  hand.  If  you 
keep  on  at  this  rate,  instead  of  raising  a  mutiny  I'll 
tell  the  crew  the  whole  story,  show  the  agreement 
signed  by  you  and  Captain  Jim,  and  ask  that  they 
help  me  get  fair  treatment." 

"You  mutinous  scoundrel,  I'll  break  every  bone  in 
your  body !" 

"You'll  answer  for  it  to  the  law,  if  you  do.  I 
don't  question  but  that  you  are  willing  to  commit 
murder  for  the  sake  of  getting  rid  of  me ;  but  in  the 
meanwhile  I  am  going  to  take  precious  good  care  of 
myself.  So  far,  the  work  in  the  galley  has  been 
done  as  well  as  any  ordinary  cook  could  do  it,  and 
you  have  had  no  reason  to  find  fault  with  me.  Al- 
ready the  men  are  beginning  to  ask  themselves  why 
it  is  you  bear  down  on  me  so  hard,  and  I've  got 
enough    in    my    possession    to    prove    the    reason. 


"You  mutinous  scoundrel,"  said  the  mate  to  Winn,  "I'll  break  every  bono 
in  your  body."— Page  78.  The  Treasure  of  Cocos  Island. 


THE  MATE'S   TYRANNY.  79 

What's  more,  I  intend  to  produce  it,  when  it  seems 
necessary,  in  order  to  save  my  life." 

Gerry  had  advanced  a  few  paces,  with  hand  up- 
raised, when  the  boy  began  to  speak;  but  before 
Winn  concluded  he  stood  motionless  before  the  lad 
as  the  true  position  of  affairs  began  to  dawn  upon 
him. 

This  boy  from  the  Fairhaven  poor-house  intended 
to  do  battle  in  his  own  defense,  and  an  appeal  to  the 
crew  might,  and  very  likely  would,  result  in  a  failure 
of  the  venture. 

Gerry  had  sufficient  common  sense  to  understand 
that  if  the  men,  who  had  been  shipped  simply  for  a 
trading  voyage,  agreed  to  continue  on  what  many 
would  unquestionably  believe  a  wild-goose  chase, 
they  might  demand  a  certain  share  of  the  hoard  if  it 
was  found,  and  thus  he  and  the  captain  be  forced  to 
receive  a  smaller  share  than  Manuel  Telceda  had 
agreed  upon. 

For  the  time  being  Winn  was  the  victor,  and,  un- 
derstanding this,  the  boy  had  sufficient  good  sense  to 
go  about  his  work  at  once,  for  additional  words  at 
such  a  time  would  not  only  be  useless,  but  might 
weaken  the  effect  of  what  he  had  already  said. 

When  his  labors  in  the  galley  were  concluded, 
however,  he  set  about  making  ready  for  that  which 
he  had  threatened,  by  taking  the  agreement  and  old 


§0      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAKD. 

Manuel's  last  instructions  from  their  hiding-place 
and  fastening  them  around  his  body  underneath  his 
clothing,  from  whence  they  could  be  produced  at  any 
moment  it  might  be  necessary,  while  at  the  same  time 
they  would  be  concealed  from  view.  Then  he  went 
into  his  cabin  with  no  other  idea  than  that  of  being 
alone  for  a  short  time,  in  order  to  calmly  consider 
the  situation  of  affairs. 

Gerry  was  in  his  own  room  when  Winn  went 
below,  and,  consequently,  had  no  knowledge  as  to 
the  whereabouts  of  the  cook. 

Therefore  it  was  that  when  the  mate  came  out 
into  the  saloon,  meeting  there  Captain  Jim  who  had 
left  the  deck  for  a  few  moments,  he  naturally  sup- 
posed they  were  the  only  occupants  of  that  portion 
of  the  schooner. 

Hence  he  did  not  lower  his  voice  while  repeating 
to  the  captain  the  scene  between  himself  and  Winn, 
and  the  latter  could  not  avoid  overhearing  the  con- 
versation. 

"The  cub  is  beginning  to  understand  what  Vm 
about,  an'  may  be  dangerous  if  we  don't  take  steps 
to  choke  him  off,"  Bart  said  as  he  concluded  the 
story.  "Once  let  the  crew  know  the  purpose  of  this 
voyage,  and  we  are  undone,  so  far  as  getting  the 
biggest  part  of  that  treasure  is  concerned." 

"Why  don't  you  treat  him  decently  an'  live  up  to 


THE  MATE'S  TYEANNY.  81 

our  agreement?  There's  plenty  of  money  in  it  for 
us  as  old  Telceda  arranged  the  matter — more  than 
you  and  I  could  spend  during  the  remainder  of  our 
lives.  He's  a  partner,  an'  but  for  him  we  might  not 
have  been  in  the  scheme.  Therefore  I  say  we  should 
act  honestly  by  the  boy." 

^*And  I  say  you  are  a  fool,  Jim  Robinson,  if  you 
are  willing  to  give  up  millions  for  the  sake  of  curry- 
ing favor  with  a  pauper." 

*T  am  not  currying  favor,  Bart  Gerry ;  but  simply 
treating  the  boy  as  I  would  like  to  be  treated." 

'Tt's  too  late  for  all  that  namby-pamby  talk.  You 
agreed  with  me  that  if  Telceda  died  we  should  get 
rid  of  the  cub,  providin'  I  would  do  the  dirty  work." 

"Yes,  I  agreed,  Bart  Gerry,  because  you  had  me 
foul  by  threatening  to  turn  back  if  I  didn't  fall  in 
with  your  views.  The  stores  are  yours,  and  failing 
in  them  we  couldn't  continue  the  voyage;  but  the 
schooner  is  mine,  and  without  her  you  can't  step  foot 
on  Cocos  Island." 

"That's  where  you're  makin'  a  big  mistake,  an' 
don't  you  forget  it !  There  are  plenty  of  schooners 
in  this  world,  or  brigs,  or  ships,  for  that  matter, 
which  can  be  chartered,  and  you  know  it  as  well  as  I 
do.  Land  me  and  my  stores  at  the  nearest  port,  if 
you  are  so  honest  that  you  are  willing  Ito  give  away 
two  or  three  million  dollars,  and  before  you  have 


82      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

gotten  back  to  Fairhaven  I'll  be  on  board  another 
craft  bound  for  Cocos  Island,  with  the  right  to  take 
every  piece  of  gold  in  that  hoard  for  my  own.  It'll 
be  a  good  trade  for  me,  too,  and  I  don't  care  how 
soon  you  turn  rusty." 

"It  might  be  possible  I  could  find  others  who 
would  invest  a  few  dollars  in  the  venture,  if  I  showed 
them  a  chart  of  the  island." 

"Have  you  got  it?" 

"Old  Manuefgave  it  to  us  both." 

"So  he  did ;  but  it  is  in  my  possession,  and  while 
you  are  hunting  for  another  partner  I'll  be  unearth- 
ing the  treasure.  Now  you  can  have  your  choice, 
Jim  Robinson;  run  this  venture  to  suit  me,  or  back 
down,  I  don't  care  which." 

"When  it  comes  to  talk  like  that  I'm  beaten,  of 
course,  and  am  just  so  much  of  a  cur  that  rather  than 
give  up  my  chance  of  what  may  be  on  Cocos  Island, 
I'll  stand  by  and  see  you  try  to  drive  an  innocent, 
honest  lad  iiito  defending  himself,  until  you  can  law- 
fully put  him  under  arrest  at  the  nearest  port." 

"It  matters  little  to  me  what  you  call  yourself,  so 
that  you  do  as  I  say.  There  is  this,  however,  for 
you  to  consider  and  figure  as  to  what  measures  can 
be  taken  toward  preventing  it.  In  the  first  place, 
the  boy  is  to  be  sent  ashore  charged  with  mutiny, 
and  there  must  be  such  evidence  as  will  convict  him 


THE   MATE'S   TYEANNY.  83 

by  the  testimony  of  the  crew  themselves.  That  is 
decided  upon.  Now,  he  threatens  to  make  the  men 
acquainted  with  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  if  he  does 
that,  we  can  say  good-by  to  the  Aymara  treasure." 

*'This  devil's  broth  is  of  your  own  brewing,  and 
you  shall  finish  it  without  any  of  my  help." 

"I  don't  think  I  shall.  To  protect  even  the  ninth 
portion  which  Telceda  agreed  should  be  yours, 
you've  got  to  do  what  you  can  to  prevent  this  boy 
from  carrying  out  his  threats,  so  try  to  think  of 
some  plan  between  now  and  morning.  During  that 
length  of  time,  at  least,  I'll  guarantee  he  don't  make 
mischief  for  us  aboard  this  schooner." 

''Look  here,  Bart,  just  stop  for  a  minute  and  think 
how  much  easier  and  more  satisfactory  it  would  be 
in  every  way  if,  instead  of  trying  to  get  a  few  more 
dollars  for  ourselves,  we  played  fair  with  Winn. 
There  is  no  reason  why  everything  shouldn't  move 
along  smoothly ;  nothing  to  prevent  our  going  ahead 
as  we  agreed  upon  before  leaving  Fairhaven,  pro- 
viding we'll  do  what  we've  promised  over  our  sig- 
natures." 

"There's  the  biggest  kind  of  a  reason  why  it  can't 
be  done,  for  I  won't  have  it.  You  are  in  a  position 
where  you're  bound  to  help  i  e  through,  unless  we 
put  into  the  nearest  port,  break  partnership  between 
us,  and  you  give  up  all  hope  of  the  treasure." 


8J:      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

As  may  be  supposed,  Winn  had  listened  intently 
during  this  conversation,  which  was  carried  on  in 
such  loud  tones  that  he  could  distinctly  hear  every 
word  spoken. 

From  the  silence  which  followed  he  understood 
that  Captain  Jim  had  no  reply  to  make  to  this  last 
remark,  and  after  a  brief  pause  he  heard  the  mate 
walk  out  of  the  saloon. 

The  banging  of  the  captain's  door  told  that  he  had 
gone  into  his  own  room,  and  the  cook  knew  it  was 
absolutely  necessary  for  his  own  safety  that  he 
should  gain  the  galley  without  Bart  Gerry's  suspect- 
ing he  might  have  been  where  he  could  play  the  part 
of  eavesdropper. 

This  was  not  a  simple  matter,  for  it  was  necessary 
he  should  ascend  the  after  companion-way  stairs  in 
order  to  gain  the  deck. 

It  was  better  to  start  at  once  than  wait  until  Cap- 
tain Robinson  had  followed  the  mate,  and  by  a  rare 
good  fortune  Gerry  was  forward  inspecting  some 
work  on  the  forecastle-deck. 

Joe  Savage  stood  at  the  wheel,  and  to  him  Winn 
whispered : 

''Don't  let  on  that  I've  been  down  here,  Joe." 

"I  reckon  you  heard  what  the  captain  and  mate 
were  talkin'  about,  eh?" 

"Did  vou?"  Winn  asked  in  surprise. 


THE  MATERS   TYRANNY.  85 

**I  couldn't  very  well  help  it  unless  Fd  been  stone 
deaf.  Say,  lad,  what  kind  of  a  voyage  is  this  'ere 
we've  shipped  for  ?" 

"I  can't  stop  to  speak  with  you  now,  Joe,  or  the 
mate  will  see  me  and  know  where  I've  been.  Don't 
say  anything  to  the  others  about  what  you've  heard, 
and  if  we  get  a  chance  this  evening  I'll  tell  you  some- 
thing." 

*'It's  high  time  you  did,  lad,  for  you're  needin'  a 
friend  on  this  'ere  schooner  mighty  bad,  accordin'  to 
my  way  of  thinkin'.  An  older  head  than  yours,  or 
perhaps  mine,  is  needed  to  get  you  out  of  the  snarl 
you've  dropped  into,  an'  I  ain't  certain  but  that  all 
hands  of  us  are  in  an  uncomfortable  kind  of  a  fix." 

^'Keep  quiet  about  what  you've  heard  until  you 
see  me  again,"  Winn  whispered,  and  then,  the  mate's 
back  being  turned  for  an  instant,  he  ran  swiftly  for- 
ward to  the  galley. 


CHAPTER  VL 

AN  ALLIANCE. 

Although  Winn  had  spoken  stoutly  to  the  mate, 
he  was  far  from  feeling  as  brave  as  his  words  im- 
plied. 

Once  alone  in  the  galley,  he  had  ample  time  for 
reflection,  if  it  had  been  needed.  It  was  not  neces- 
sary he  should  study  the  situation  very  intently  be- 
fore realizing  the  dangers  which  beset  him. 

Now  that  Bart  Gerry  was  determined  to  rid  him- 
self of  the  young  partner,  there  were  many  ways  by 
which  the  matter  could  be  accomplished  and  against 
which  Winn  could  make  but  feeble  resistance.  Even 
though  it  should  so  chance  that  the  mate  failed  to 
arouse  his  victim  to  such  a  pitch  that  the  show  of 
mutiny  would  be  made — if  Winn  could  keep  his  tem- 
per down  while  suffering  most  cruel  and  abusive 
treatment,  it  would  not  be  difficult  for  Bart  Gerry 
to  quietly  dispose  of  the  boy  without  exciting  sus- 
picion. 

It  would  be  a  comparatively  simple  matter  to  push 
the  lad  overboard  on  some  dark  night  while  he  was 


AN  ALLIANCE.  87 

making'his  way  from  the  galley  to  the  cabin,  without 
being  seen  by  the  man  at  the  wheel  or  the  crew  who 
kept  watch  iorw^d,  and  this  fact  Winn  did  not  fully 
realize  until  he  was  alone  in  the  galley. 

Then  the  thought  came  suddenly,  causing  the  live- 
liest fears. 

"Bart  Gerry  would  kill  me  for  the  sake  of  getting 
my  share  of  the  treasure  as  readily  as  he  would  a  kit- 
ten, and  I  have  made  a  big  mistake  in  threatening  to 
tell  the  crew,"  Winn  said  to  himself  as  this  phase  of 
the  case  presented  itself.  "Both  he  and  the  captain 
are  bound  to  have  their  eyes  on  me  from  now  out, 
and  my  situation  is  ten  times  worse  than  it  was  an 
hour  ago." 

Words  seem  poor  and  cold  in  describing  Winn's 
position  on  board  the  "Flying  Scud"  after  he  had 
openly  defied  Bart  Gerry. 

There  was  little  question  in  the  boy's  mind  but 
that  the  mate  would  commit  murder  without  com- 
punction, if  there  was  no  other  means  by  which  the 
desired  end  could  be  obtained,  and  it  was  almost  ab- 
solutely certain  he  would  do  so  rather  than  allow  the 
crew  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  purpose  of  the 
voyage. 

Winn  knew  all  too  well  that  Captain  Jim  believed 
himself  powerless  to  oppose  the  mate's  plans,  there- 
fore Manuel  Telceda's  heir  stood  alone,  facing  a 


88      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

deadly  enemy,  unless  it  should  be  possible  to  enlist 
the  sympathies  of  one  or  more  of  the  crew. 

Joe  Savage  had  been  exceedingly  friendly  since 
the  day  the  "Flying  Scud"  left  the  home  port,  and, 
having  overheard  the  conversation  between  the  mate 
and  the  captain,  had  such  an  inkling  of  the  situation 
that  he  would  readily  believe  the  boy's  story. 

"I  must  tell  him  just  how  I'm  fixed,  and  whatever 
he  advises  I'll  do,  even  if  he  should  propose  that  I 
desert  the  schooner  at  the  first  opportunity,"  the  boy 
said  to  himself,  and  an  instant  later  he  realized  that 
it  might  not  be  possible  to  hold  a  private  conversa- 
tion with  the  sailor,  after  having  been  so  rash  as  to 
warn  the  mate  of  his  intention. 

"I'll  do  my  best  between  now  an'  night,"  he 
thought.  "By  speaking  a  few  words  each  time  Joe 
passes  the  galley  I  should  be  able  to  give  him  a  good 
idea  of  affairs  without  seeming  to  be  telling  any 
secrets." 

He  was  interrupted  in  these  painful  musings  as 
Gerry,  coming  from  the  forecastle-deck,  halted  at 
the  galley  door. 

"Where  were  you  when  I  went  forward?" 

"I  must  have  been  here." 

"This  galley  was  empty  when  I  passed." 

"I  might  have  been  in  the  forecastle  or  half  a 
dozen  other  places,  makin'  ready  to  cook  supper." 


AN  ALLIANCE.  89 

Fortunately  for  the  boy,  there  was  a  quantity  of 
stores  on  one  of  the  lockers  as  if  recently  placed 
there,  and  the  mate  must  have  believed  that  the  cook 
had  been  attending  to  his  duties,  for  he  did  not  con- 
tinue the  questions,  but  said  with  a  bullying  air : 

"You  are  to  walk  a  chalk-mark  from  this  on, 
young  fellow.  If  I  see  you  so  much  as  speak  to  one 
of  the  crew.  Til  beat  your  brains  out  with  a  belay- 
ing-pin  and  take  my  chances  afterward.  It  was  all 
very  well  for  you  to  threaten ;  I'm  obliged  to  you  for 
doing  it,  because  it  has  put  me  on  my  guard,  and 
now  I  know  what  to  expect.  When  I'm  off  duty, 
the  captain  will  have  his  eye  on  you.  There  is  to  be 
no  more  loafing  forward  after  your  work  is  done. 
The  moment  you  are  through  with  supper,  go  into 
your  cabin  and  stay  there.     Do  you  hear  ?" 

'T  hear  what  you  say,"  Winn  replied,  taking  good 
care  not  to  speak  defiantly. 

"Then  see  that  you  obey  orders  an'  keep  your 
tongue  between  your  teeth.  That  is  your  only 
chance  of  ever  seeing  Cocos  Island." 

With  this  threat  Mr.  Bartholomew  Gerry  walked 
aft,  and  the  watch  below  was  summoned  to  take 
their  trick  on  deck. 

Joe  Savage,  being  relieved  from  the  wheel,  came 
directly  toward  the  galley,  and,  looking  out,  Winn 
saw  that  the  mate  was  following  him  closely. 


90      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Pretending  to  be  deeply  engaged  in  his  culinary 
operations,  the  boy  kept  his  head  bent,  lest  Joe,  igno- 
rant of  Gerry's  proximity,  should  say  something 
which  might  betray  the  fact  of  their  having  spoken 
together  regarding  the  conversation  in  the  cabin,  and 
the  sailor  was  quick  to  take  the  hint. 

Without  so  much  as  turning  his  head,  he  con- 
tinued on  past  the  galley,  crying  as  he  went  toward 
the  forecastle : 

"I  want  a  pannikin  of  tea,  cookie,  and  see  that  you 
have  it  ready !'' 

This  apparently  disarmed  Mr.  Gerry's  suspicions, 
for  he  returned  aft  in  time  to  meet  Captain  Jim,  who, 
in  the  absence  of  another  mate,  was  standing  watch 
and  watch  with  his  partner. 

Glancing  out  the  corner  of  his  eye  Winn  saw  the 
two  men  engage  in  conversation,  and  a  few  moments 
later  Gerry,  after  a  long,  searching  look  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  galley,  went  below. 

There  could  be  no  question  but  that  he  had  in- 
structed the  captain  to  prevent  the  cook  from  talk- 
ing with  the  crew,  yet  Winn  believed  the  time  had 
come  when  it  would  be  possible  to  make  a  confidant 
of  Joe  Savage,  and  knew  full  well  that  whatever  he 
did  in  this  direction  must  be  done  without  delay. 

The  boy  knew  that,  after  having  overheard  the 
conversation  between  the  captain  and  the  mate,  Joe 


AN  ALLIANCE.  91 

Savage  would  make  every  effort  to  have  a  private 
conversation  with  him  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment, and  therefore  he  remained  on  the  alert  while 
attending  to  his  duties. 

Nor  was  he  mistaken.  Twenty  minutes  later  the 
captain  went  below,  although  it  was  his  trick  on 
deck.  The  "Flying  Scud"  needed  but  little  watch- 
ing this  afternoon,  when  there  was  hardly  sufficient 
weight  in  the  wind  to  keep  the  canvas  full,  and  no 
sooner  had  he  disappeared  than  Joe  was  at  the  small 
window  which  opened  from  the  forward  side  of  the 
galley. 

"If  you  have  got  anything  to  say  to  me,  lad,  and 
I  reckon  you  have,  it  must  be  done  quickly.  I  heard 
what  the  mate  said  about  preventing  you  from  talk- 
ing with  any  of  the  crew,  and  it  looks  as  if  the  cap- 
tain was  bent  on  the  same  thing,  though  I  allow  he 
ain't  willin'  to  go  quite  so  far  as  is  that  bloomin' 
Gerry." 

"It  isn't  possible  for  me  to  tell  the  whole  story  in  a 
few  moments,  Joe.  Wait  until  night,  and  perhaps  I 
shall  get  a  chance  to  crawl  into  the  forecastle." 

"I'll  go  bail  you  can't  try  anything  of  that  sort. 
If  you  ain't  locked  up  in  your  room  it  will  be  a  sur- 
prise to  me.  Where's  this  'ere  bloomin'  schooner 
bound  to,  anyway?" 

"An  island  in  the  Indian  Ocean." 


92      THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

''An'  this  talk  about  a  tradin'  voyage  is  all  guff, 
eh?" 

Instead  of  replying  to  the  question,  Winn  said 
gravely : 

'Took  here,  Joe ;  I  don't  want  to  make  any  trouble 
on  board  this  vessel,  and  at  the  same  time  I  must 
prevent  the  mate  from  getting  me  into  hot  water. 
Now  I'll  tell  you  all  I  know  about  where  we're  going, 
if  you'll  agree  to  stand  by  me  an'  not  let  on  to  any  of 
the  rest  that  I've  said  a  word." 

"I'll  agree  to  the  first  part  of  it  quick  enough,  but 
as  for  the  second  I  ain't  so  certain.  If  this  'ere  is  a 
thing  my  mates  oughter  know  about,  or  if  we're 
runnin'  our  necks  into  some  kind  of  a  lawyer's  noose, 
why  then  it  wouldn't  be  fair  an'  above  board  for  me 
to  hold  my  tongue." 

"You  can't  be  gettin'  into  any  difficulty  with  the 
law." 

"Then  I'll  agree  to  keep  my  tongue  between  my 
teeth." 

In  the  fewest  possible  words  Winn  gave  the  out- 
lines of  the  story,  beginning  from  the  time  when  the 
two  men  overheard  old  Manuel's  account  of  the 
buried  treasure,  and,  as  may  well  be  imagined,  all 
the  while  keeping  strict  watch  lest  Captain  Jim 
should  come  upon  him  unawares. 

Joe  Savage  listened  in  open-mouthed  astonish- 


AN  ALLIANCE.  93 

ment,  not  interrupting  by  so  much  as  a  long-drawn 
breath ;  but  when  Winn  had  concluded  he  smote  his 
open  palm  with  his  fist  as  he  exclaimed : 

"So  that's  the  kind  of  a  tune  we're  to  dance  by,  is 
it?  Bound  on  a  treasure-huntin'  cruise,  an'  that's 
something  no  good  ever  comes  of!  Why,  I  was 
shipmate  once  with  a  maij  what  set  out  on  the  same 
kind  of  a  voyage,  an'  every  bloomin'  one  of  'em  went 
to  the  bottom  but  him.  Why?  'Cause  they  was 
huntin'  for  treasure  what  wasn't  to  be  dug  by  livin' 
man.  I  sailed  in  the  ship  'Antelope'  with  two  black 
cats  aboard ;  but  that  wasn't  a  marker  alongside  of 
what  we're  doin'  now.  Treasure  hunting!  Why, 
lad,  there  ain't  a  man  in  the  forecastle  who'd  have 
signed  papers  if  he'd  knowed  what  I  know  now." 

"But  Joe,"  Winn  interrupted,  "don't  spend  your 
time  talkin'  about  superstitions,  because  the  captain 
may  come  back  at  any  minute.  Unless  you  help  me 
I'm  bound  to  go  under  in  some  way  or  other." 

"I  allow  that's  a  fact,  lad.  Accordin'  to  the  way 
I  look  at  it  you're  in  a  mighty  tight  hole,  an'  so  are 
all  the  rest  of  us  for  that  matter.  See  here,  I'll  just 
give  the  word  to  my  mates,  an'  you  can  make  up 
your  mind  this  'ere  schooner  don't  go  to  any  bloom- 
in'  island  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  not  on  this  voyage." 

"But  that  wouldn't  do  at  all,  Joe.  I'm  bound  by 
my  promises  to  Manuel,  and,  besides,  suppose  the 


94      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

men  should  refuse  to  continue  the  voyage,  how  could 
they  get  ashore,  or  if  we  put  into  a  port  and  all 
hands  deserted,  what  good  is  done  then?  Bart 
Gerry  will  get  rid  of  me,  an'  he'll  find  crew  enough 
to  sail  this  vessel,  even  if  she  is  bound  on  a  treasure 
cruise." 

It  was  impossible  for  Winn  to  induce  his  friend  to 
talk  of  anything  save  the  "hard  luck"  which  always 
attended  cruises  of  such  a  nature. 

Joe  Savage  could  think  of  nothing  but  the  ill- 
fortune  which  was  certain  to  attend  them,  and  in  a 
very  short  time  the  boy  understood  that  he  would 
receive  no  advice  from  the  sailor  until  after  he  had 
recovered  in  a  measure  from  his  fears. 

"It  won't  do  for  you  to  stand  here  any  longer,  Joe, 
because  the  captain  will  be  on  deck  mighty  soon. 
Try  not  to  think  of  all  the  superstitions  you  have 
heard  about  such  voyages,  and  put  your  mind  right 
down  to  helping  me.  If  you  don't  do  it,  Bart  Gerry 
will — well,  I  don't  believe  he  would  stop  at  anything, 
for  he  has  the  same  as  told  me  so." 

"I  can't  think  he'd  dare  to  murder  you  outright, 
lad,  however  hard  a  citizen  he  is.  But,  if  I  was  in 
your  shoes,  I  wouldn't  walk  too  near  the  rail  in 
heavy  weather." 

"Turn  it  over  in  your  mind,  Joe,  and  remember 
that  I  must  stay  on  board  as  long  as  possible.    There 


AlSr  ALLIANCE.  95 

isn't  a  soul  among  all  the  crew,  but  you,  whom  I  can 
trust  Go  into  the  forecastle,  and  if  I  don't  get  a 
chance  to  slip  out  of  the  room  after  dark,  come  to 
this  window  to-morrow  morning  or  loaf  'round 
when  breakfast  is  being  served." 

'I'll  put  my  mind  right  down  to  it,  lad,  and  keep 
it  there  till  I've  hit  upon  some  kind  of  a  plan,  though 
it  ain't  anyways  easy  for  one  of  a  crew  to  fall  afoul 
of  the  first  officer  of  a  vessel.  Better  let  me  tell  all 
hands,  and " 

*'No,  no,  Joe.  The  'Flying  Scud'  must  not  put 
into  port  after  another  crew  because  you  have 
mutinied,  for  then  I  should  be  alone,  indeed.  Keep 
to  yourself  all  I  have  said,  and  think  it  over." 

"It'll  be  many  an  hour  before  I  get  out  of  my  head 
the  trouble  there's  bound  to  come  to  us.  I  had  a 
shipmate  once  what  had  been  shipmates  with  an  old 
shell-back  who  had  sailed  on  one  of  these  'ere  cruises, 
and  if  you  could  hear  the  yarns  he  spun  it  would 
make  your  hair  stick  straight  up  through  your  cap. 
Why,  he  said " 

"There  comes  Captain  Jim,  and  you  must  not  let 
him  see  you  here,"  and  Winn  busied  himself  over  the 
stove,  making  a  great  clatter  of  pots  and  pans,  as  if 
to  prove  that  he  had  no  other  thoughts  than  a  cook 
should  have  within  half  an  hour  of  the  time  for 
supper. 


96      THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

When  the  meal  was  served  in  the  cabin  Winn 
learned  that  the  captain  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
follow  the  instructions  of  the  mate  implicitly,  for  he 
said,  much  as  though  ashamed  of  giving  such  a  com- 
mand: 

"Mr.  Gerry  thinks  it  is  best  for  you  to  go  directly 
into  your  room  as  soon  as  you  have  washed  the 
dishes.  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  on  you,  boy;  but 
you  made  certain  threats,  and  for  our  own  safety  we 
are  bound  to  see  that  you  do  not  carry  them  out. 
Therefore,  save  during  only  such  time  as  it  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  you  to  be  in  the  galley,  we  must 
see  that  you  keep  in  your  own  cabin." 

"But  suppose  I  should  promise  not  to  carry  out 
the  threat  I  made  after  Mr.  Gerry  knocked  me 
down  ?  Even  a  boy  is  bound  to  defend  himself,  and 
at  the  time  that  seemed  to  be  the  only  way  I  could 
prevent  him  from  beating  me." 

"Would  you  keep  the  promise  if  you  made  it  ?" 

"I  always  have  stuck  to  my  word,  although  some 
folks  think  boys  who  live  on  a  poor-farm  can't 
tell  the  truth  same  as  others  who  have  regular 
homes." 

"I'm  not  throwing  up  that  you're  a  pauper,  lad; 
but  you  understand  as  well  as  I  do  what  mischief 
would  come  if  you  should  tell  the  crew  all  you 
know." 


AN  ALLIANCE.  97 

'I'd  never  threatened  to  do  so  if  I'd  been  treated 
as  I  was  while  Manuel  lived." 

*'We  won't  talk  about  that  part  of  it,"  Captain 
Jim  said  quickly.  "If  you  are  willing  to  swear  that 
you'll  never  mention  the  subject  until  we  give  you 
permission,  I'll  see  what  can  be  done;  but  till  then 
you  must  obey  orders.  It  would  seem  queer  to 
others  that  I  followed  the  instructions  of  my  mate; 
but  you,  who  know  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
can  understand  that  we  must  stick  together  in  this 
business  or  lose  everything." 

"I  understand,  captain,  that  there  wouldn't  be  any 
need  of  such  talk  as  this  if  you'd  had  your  own  way," 
Winn  replied,  and  then  he  began  clearing  the  dishes 
from  the  table,  while  the  master  of  the  'Tlying 
Scud,"  looking  thoroughly  ill  at  ease,  went  on  deck. 

When  his  work  in  the  galley  was  finished  Winn 
went  below  in  obedience  to  orders,  and  a  very  un- 
comfortable night  did  he  spend,  for  even  though  he 
should  obey  the  mate  to  the  letter  he  knew  the  latter 
would  find  some  pretext  for  accusing  him  of  crimi- 
nal acts,  even  if  he  did  not  proceed  to  yet  greater 
extremities. 

When  Winn  awakened  next  morning  he  under- 
stood from  the  violent  movements  of  the  schooner 
that  she  had  run  into  a  storm,  and  however  severe  it 
might  prove  to  be,  he  must  be  the  gainer  by  it,  for 


98      THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

in  heavy  weather  the  mate  would  Hkely  have  all  he 
could  do  to  attend  to  his  duties  as  a  seaman,  without 
making  wretched  the  life  of  one  whom  he  had 
agreed  to  protect. 

Until  this  day  the  "Flying  Scud"  had  been  fa- 
vored in  the  w^ay  of  weather,  but  now  she  was  beaten 
and  buffeted  as  if  the  elements  had  conspired  to  pre- 
vent her  from  proceeding  further  in  quest  of  the 
treasure,  and  Joe  Savage  said  as  he  came  for  his 
morning's  allowance  of  coffee: 

"This  ain't  a  marker  alongside  of  what  we're 
goin'  to  catch  before  we  strike  the  bloomin'  island 
you  say  we're  bound  for.  That  shipmate  of  mine 
what  was  bound  on  one  of  these  'ere  wild-goose 
cruises  told  me  they  had  howling  weather  from  the 
time  they  started  until  the  captain  was  obliged  to 
put  back  on  account  of  the  crawling  things  that 
come  up  out  of  the  sea,  an'  we're  in  for  the  same, 
lad." 

"Now,  don't  be  foolish,  Joe.  You  can't  expect  to 
have  a  fair  wind  all  the  time,  and  this  isn't  much  of 
a  storm,  is  it?" 

"Well,  it  ain't  what  you  might  call  a  livin'  gale, 
but  it'll  pass  for  the  beginnin'  of  the  bad  luck  that's 
comin'  to  the  Tlying  Scud'  an'  them  as  are  on  board 
of  her." 

"Did  you  think  of  any  plan  last  night?" 


AN  ALLIANCE.  99 

"I  reckon,  lad,  this  'ere  will  about  suit  the  case. 
You're  to " 

"What  are  you  loafin'  'round  the  galley  for?" 
Gerry  shouted  from  the  quarter-deck.  *'Get  for- 
ward if  you've  got  your  allowance,  and  if  not,  fall 
back  to  let  some  other  take  your  place.  There's  to 
be  no  yarns  with  the  cook,  or  I'll  iall  aboard  of  you 
after  a  fashion  that  won't  be  to  your  liking." 

''Get  forward,  Joe,"  Winn  whispered  nervously. 
''When  he  goes  below  you  can  come  to  the  window 
again." 

"He  don't  want  to  do  much  buUyin'  with  me,  now 
I  know  what  kind  of  a  first  mate  he  is,"  Joe  grum- 
bled ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  complied  with  Winn's 
request,  and  during  the  remainder  of  this  day  there 
was  no  opportunity  for  the  boy  and  the  sailor  whom 
he  had  selected  as  his  friend  to  speak  in  private, 
owing  to  the  confusion  which  reigned. 

The  wind  increased  in  force  as  the  day  advanced, 
and  by  noon  the  schooner  was  laboring  so  heavily 
that  it  was  impossible  for  the  cook  to  do  more  than 
provide  hot  tea  or  coffee  for  either  the  occupants  of 
the  forecastle  or  the  cabin. 

The  "Flying  Scud"  was  making  exceedingly 
heavy  weather  of  it,  and  understanding  that  it  was 
useless  for  him  to  remain  at  his  post  of  duty,  Winn 
decided  to  go  aft,  if  indeed  that  should  be  possible, 


State  of  QOifomia,  San  Ben. .  .        _y^ 

for  there  seemed  every  danger  the  galley  would  be 
carried  away. 

Save  for  the  man  at  the  wheel,  the  lookout  for- 
ward, and  the  captain,  who  was  partially  sheltered 
by  the  after  companion-way,  no  person  could  be  seen, 
and  it  was  a  perilous  venture  for  the  boy  even  to  at- 
tempt to  make  his^^^^^f  across  the  wave-swept  decks. 

However,  he  succeeded  after  a  certain  fashion,  but 
at  imminent  risk  of  his  life,  and  grateful  indeed  was 
the  relief  of  being  below,  for  during  the  past  hour  or 
more  he  had  stood  knee-deep  in  water  the  greater 
portion  of  the  time.  v^ 

Bart  Gerry  was  seated  at  the  saloon  table,  evi- 
dently finding  it  difficult  to  remain  in  the  chair,  and 
it  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  the  fellow  was  beset  with 
fear.  His  face  was  ashen  pale,  his  lips  trembled 
convulsively,  and  there  was  no  trace  of  the  bully  left 
in  him. 

Winn  was  on  the  point  of  entering  his  room  when 
he  heard  the  captain  shout : 

"All  hands  on  deck  r 

In  another  moment  a  heavy  crash  above  and  the 
quivering  of  the  schooner,  as  if  she  had  struck  a  reef, 
told  that  the  "Flying  Scud"  was  rapidly  being 
worsted  by  the  elements. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  DISABLED  BULLY. 

The  shock  which  told  of  disaster  to  the  "Flying 
Scud"  hurled  Winn  with  such  violence  against  the 
bulkhead  as  to  deprive  him  momentarily  of  con- 
sciousness, and  when  he  finally  staggered  to  his  feet 
only  to  be  thrown  headlong  again,  the  change  in  the 
motion  of  the  schooner  was  good  proof  that  she  no 
longer  remained  under  the  control  of  her  crew. 

Instead  of  leaping  from  one  mountainous  surge  to 
another,  alternately  climbing  upward  and  plunging 
down  as  if  bent  on  going  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea, 
she  rolled  to  and  fro,  her  timbers  groaning  and 
creaking  as  if  they  were  about  to  be  wrenched  from 
their  fastenings. 

x\lthough  having  had  but  little  experience  as  a 
sailor,  Winn  understood  that  some  serious  mishap 
had  befallen  the  craft,  and  there  came  into  his  mind 
the  predictions  of  evil  with  which  Joe  Savage  re- 
ceived the  information  regarding  the  purpose  of  the 
voyage. 

It  was  impossible  to  form  any  idea  as  to  what  was 
being  done  on  deck. 

The  pounding  of  the  waves  against  the  sides  of 

101 


102    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

the  helpless  craft,  and  the  creaking  and  protesting  of 
each  individual  timber,  made  up  such  a  din  as  was 
literally  deafening,  yet  to  his  mind  came  a  dim  idea 
that  he  might  be  needed  on  deck. 

To  walk  the  length  of  the  saloon  was  impossible, 
and  on  his  hands  and  knees  he  crawled  to  the  foot  of 
the  companion-way  again,  reaching  that  point  just 
as  the  captain  and  Joe  Savage,  bearing  an  ominous 
looking  burden,  began  to  descend. 

"What  has  happened?"  he  cried  in  alarm,  and  the 
master  of  the  schooner  replied,  speaking  at  the  full 
strength  of  his  lungs  in  order  to  make  himself  heard 
above  the  roar  of  the  elements : 

"Open  the  door  of  Mr.  Gerry's  room.  He  has 
been  disabled  by  a  falling  block." 

It  seemed  the  height  of  irony  that  the  one  man  on 
board  the  schooner  who  was  willing  to  work  mortal 
injury  to  the  boy  should  have  been  stricken  down 
when  the  first  fury  of  the  tempest  burst  upon  them, 
and  Winn  could  not  repress  a  certain  sense  of  relief 
at  thus  learning  that  his  enemy  was,  for  a  time  at 
least,  powerless  for  harm. 

To  bring  the  injured  man  down  the  companion- 
way  was  a  task  which  caused  the  keenest  suffering, 
as  was  evinced  by  the  groans  to  which  Gerry  gave 
vent,  and  so  loud  and  incessant  were  these  that  Winn 
feared  lest  he  might  be  dying. 


A   DISABLED   BULLY.  103 

He  did  his  best  to  render  some  assistance,  and  the 
captain,  eager  to  be  on  deck  where  he  was  most  cer- 
tainly needed,  rehnquished  his  portion  of  the  burden 
to  the  boy. 

Once,  twice,  three  times  were  Winn  and  Joe 
hurled  directly  across  the  saloon  before  an  entrance 
to  the  mate's  cabin  could  be  effected,  and  on  each 
occasion  Gerry  gave  ample  evidence  of  the  pain 
caused  by  the  rude  shocks. 

Then  he  was  finally  deposited  in  the  berth, 
and  Winn  looked  around  helplessly,  eager  to 
soothe  the  anguish,  but  not  certain  how  it  might 
be  done. 

Joe  Savage  was  a  rough  nurse,  but  one  who  had 
had  considerable  experience  in  similar  accidents,  and 
regardless  of  the  pain  inflicted,  he  set  about  ascer- 
taining the  extent  of  the  injuries. 

''I  reckon  one  leg  is  broken,  an'  it'll  be  the  biggest 
kind  of  luck  if  the  rest  of  his  bones  are  whole,"  the 
sailor  said  to  Winn  as  if  speaking  of  some  inanimate 
object.  'There's  about  two  chances  in  a  thousand 
that  the  block  could  fall  again  an'  not  kill  the  man 
who  stood  where  the  mate  did.  I  allow  there's 
precious  little  time  for  me  to  stay  below,  for  the 
'Flying  Scud'  is  the  same  as  dismasted,  an'  every 
man  must  do  double  duty  just  now,  if  we  would  save 
her  from  goin' to  the  bottom." 


104    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Tell  the  captain  to  come  down  here,"  Gerry 
moaned. 

"I  allow,  if  he  knows  his  business,  he'll  stay  on 
deck,"  Joe  replied.  'This  ain't  a  time  when  the 
master  of  a  vessel  can  coddle  up  one  man  who's  been 
hurt.  With  half  the  crew  below  in  somethin'  the 
same  shape  you  are,  his  place  is  on  deck.  Do  what 
you  can  for  him,  lad,  an'  when  this  'ere  blow  is  spent, 
somebody  will  come  to  relieve  you." 

Then,  regardless  alike  of  the  mate's  groans  and 
protests,  the  sailor  hurried  on  deck,  and  Winn,  who 
had  no  experience  in  nursing,  was  forced  to  appeal 
to  the  sufferer  for  advice  as  to  what  should  be  done. 

''Get  my  boot  off  as  quick  as  you  can,  an'  then 
pull  down  from  the  hooks  some  of  those  clothes  to 
stuff  in  behind  me,  so  I  shan't  be  knocked  about  so 
badly  when  the  schooner  rolls,"  Gerry  replied  in  a 
faint  tone,  which  told  that  his  strength  was  rapidly 
deserting  him. 

The  boy  did  as  he  was  directed,  and  then  would 
have  bathed  the  injured  limb  in  the  hope  of  afford- 
ing some  slight  relief,  but  that  the  lightest  touch 
caused  the  most  intense  pain,  and  during  the  hour 
which  followed  he  could  do  no  more  than  remain  by 
the  sufferer's  side  as  best  he  might,  while  the  "Fly- 
ing Scud"  was  tossed  about  so  violently  on  the  angry 
waters. . 


A   DISABLED   BULLY.  105 

For  a  time  Gerry  alternately  raved  because  the 
captain  failed  to  come  and  berated  Winn  for  not 
knowing  what  should  be  done  under  such  circum- 
stances. 

Then  he  relapsed  into  semi-unconsciousness,  fre- 
quently talking  at  random  about  the  buried  treasure 
or  of  matters  connected  with  his  home  life. 

Finally,  and  when  it  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  he  had 
been  alone  with  his  enemy  a  full  day,  the  captain 
appeared,  saying  as  he  entered  the  cabin : 

''We've  got  the  schooner  under  control  at  last. 
The  backbone  of  the  gale  is  broken,  so  I  reckon  we'll 
weather  it.     How  are  you  feeling,  Bart?" 

The  mate  made  no  coherent  reply,  and  Winn 
gave  the  desired  information  to  the  best  of  his 
ability. 

"]oe:  Savage  says  his  leg  is  broken." 

Only  the  briefest  examination  was  necessary  to 
enable  Captain  Jim  to  understand  that  this  diagnosis 
of  the  case  was  correct,  and  he  said  quickly : 

''Send  one  of  the  men  down  here  to  help  me,  lad. 
We've  got  to  do  a  bit  of  rough  surgery,  and  I'm 
afraid  it  will  be  terribly  rough,  for  I  never  was  called 
upon  before  to  set  a  broken  bone." 

"Who  shall  I  send  to  you,  sir?" 

"Any  one  who  can  be  spared." 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Bartlett  was  the  first  whom 


106    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Winn  saw  when  he  gained  the  deck,  and  to  him  the 
message  was  delivered. 

Then  the  boy  looked  about  him  in  surprise,  for  it 
appeared  to  his  inexperienced  eyes  as  if  the  'Tlying 
Scud"  was  a  complete  wreck. 

Both  topmasts  were  snapped  off  close  to  the  head, 
and  there  was  a  raffle  of  spars  and  cordage  amidships 
which  served  to  make  up  a  scene  of  disaster  appal- 
ling to  a  landsman's  eyes,  when  in  reality  no  very 
serious  injury  had  been  sustained  by  the  schooner. 

"What  has  happened?"  he  asked  of  Joe  Savage, 
who  was  standing  near  the  main  rigging  clinging  to 
the  shrouds  to  save  himself  from  being  washed  over- 
board by  the  waves  which  swept  fore  and  aft  at 
every  plunge  made  by  the  crippled  vessel. 

"I  reckon  you  may  see  that  for  yourself,  lad.  But 
s'pose  we  go  into  the  galley  ?  I  allow  it  can  be  done, 
an'  perhaps  the  place  ain't  drowned  out  so  but  that 
we'll  be  able  to  start  a  fire.  The  crew  will  be  needin' 
somethin'  in  the  way  of  grub  as  soon  as  it  can  be 
made  ready." 

During  fully  ten  minutes  the  two  struggled  to 
gain  the  cook's  quarters,  and  more  than  once  was 
Winn  swept  entirely  off  his  feet,  saving  himself  from 
being  washed  overboard  only  by  clinging  to  Joe 
Savage  or  some  of  the  wreckage  which  was  being 
cleared  away  as  rapidly  as  the  men  could  handle  it. 


A   DISABLED   BULLY.  107 

The  galley  had  been  flooded  during  the  height  of 
the  gale,  as  might  be  told  by  a  view  of  the  interior, 
and  unaided,  Winn  could  have  done  but  little  toward 
restoring  order,  because  the  greater  portion  of  his 
efforts  were  necessarily  directed  toward  resisting  the 
mad  plunges  of  the  wounded  craft;  but,  thanks  to 
Joe's  assistance,  the  task  was  finally  accomplished, 
and  the  two  had  ample  opportunity  for  conversation 
meanwhile. 

"How  much  damage  has  been  done?"  was  the  first 
question  the  boy  asked. 

"Our  top-hamper  is  gone,  and  with  it  such  spare 
spars  as  were  stowed  on  deck." 

"Shall  we  have  to  put  into  port  for  repairs?" 

"That  I  can't  say,  lad,  till  I  know  what  we've  got 
below.  From  the  way  this  'ere  craft  has  been  fitted 
out,  I  allow  we've  got  enough  on  board  to  put  her 
ship-shape  once  more." 

"How  did  the  mate  get  hurt  ?" 

"It  wasn't  owin'  to  his  puttin'  himself  in  the  way 
of  danger ;  that  goes  without  sayin'.  He  was  holdin' 
on  like  grim  death  to  the  life-line  we'd  stretched 
across  the  deck,  when  the  main-topmast  started,  an' 
a  block  struck  him  just  below  the  hip.  It  came  within 
an  inch  of  his  head,  an'  I'd  been  well  pleased  if  that 
bit  of  distance  hadn't  been  saved,  for  even  though  he 
an'  the  captain  are  the  only  two  who  understand 


108    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

navigation,  I  reckon  we'd  been  the  gainers  if  Gerry 
had  followed  old  Manuel.  As  it  is,  though,  you're 
better  off,  for  with  a  broken  leg  he  won't  be  likely  to 
make  much  trouble  these  two  months  or  more. 
We've  pulled  through  this  blow  in  finer  shape  than 
them  as  starts  on  a  treasure-huntin'  cruise  have  any 
right  to  expect.  When  the  wind  first  broke  I  al- 
lowed it  was  all  up  with  us,  an'  for  no  other  reason 
than  that  we're  bent  on  diggin'  for  hidden  gold." 

"But  it's  foolish  to  think  the  wind  blew  so  hard 
simply  because  we're  bound  for  Cocos  Island.  It 
would  have  come  the  same  if  we'd  been  on  a  tradin' 
voyage,  as  the  men  believe." 

"That  may  all  be,  though  I  misdoubt  it.  No 
good  ever  come  of  sailormen  mixin'  up  with  sich 
business.  I  was  shipmates  once  with  an  old  shell- 
back who " 

"Now  don't  spend  the  time  spinnin'  tough  yarns 
when  we've  got  a  chance  to  talk,  for  as  soon  as  Mr. 
Gerry  gets  over  his  hurt  enough  to  take  notice  of 
what  is  going  on,  I'll  be  kept  under  his  eye." 

"I  reckon  that's  true,  lad;  but  we'll  hope  he's  got 
what'll  send  him  to  Davy  Jones's  locker  before  he 
sets  us  all  by  the  heels  again." 

"Joe  Savage,  you  are  actually  hopin'  the  mate  will 
die !"  Winn  cried  in  horror. 

"Of  course  I  am,  an'  it's  the  best  thing  that  could 


A   DISABLED   BULLY.  109 

happen  to  sich  as  him.  He's  the  same  as  said  he  was 
wilHn'  to  .pitch  you  over  the  rail  for  the  sake  of  get- 
tin'  more  of  the  treasure  than  had  been  agreed  upon 
as  his  share,  an'  men  of  his  kidney  better  be  under 
the  sea  than  on  top  of  it." 

"It  frightens  me  to  hear  you  talk  like  that." 

'Then  you'd  better  brace  up  a  good  bit,  lad,  for  if 
you  an'  our  precious  mate  ever  step  foot  on  Cocos 
Island  together,  it's  my  belief  there'll  be  more  to 
make  you  afraid  than  honest  wishes." 

'There  must  be  some  way  for  me  to  take  care  of 
myself;  I  hoped  you  could  hit  upon  a  plan." 

''All  I  can  do  when  the  mate  of  my  vessel  seems 
bent  on  mischief,  is  to  keep  a  weather-eye  on  him, 
an'  even  then  it's  long  odds  that  he'll  get  the  best  of 
me.  I  was  goin'  to  say  yesterday  when  Gerry 
yelled  to  me,  that  I'd  turned  the  whole  thing  over 
in  my  mind,  an'  the  only  way  out  of  the  snarl  I  can 
see,  is  for  you  to  talk  to  the  rest  of  the  crew  as 
you've  talked  to  me.  There  isn't  a  man  among  'em 
who  wouldn't  stand  stiff  against  any  sich  game  as  is 
bein'  put  up  on  you." 

"If  I  should  do  that,  Joe,  the  men  would  refuse  to 
work  the  vessel,  and  then  all  hands  must  be  taken  to 
the  nearest  port  charged  with  mutiny.  A  new  crew 
might  be  shipped,  and  I  should  be  in  a  worse  plight 
than  before,  because  I'm  bound  by  my  word  to 


110    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Manuel  to  stick  to  the  schooner  until  the  treasure  is 
found." 

"In  case  that  ever  happens." 

*'I'm  certain  it  is  exactly  where  he  said  it  was." 

"1  can't  say  it  ain't;  but  yet  my  mind  don't  run 
that  way,  owin'  to  all  I've  heard  about  sich  business. 
Howsomever,  you're  in  good  trim  till  the  mate  gets 
on  his  feet  agin,  an'  'twixt  now  and  then  there's  no 
knowin'  how  matters  will  turn." 

Joe  was  not  allowed  to  linger  longer  in  the  galley. 

Captain  Jim  had  concluded  his  labor  as  amateur 
surgeon,  and  all  hands  were  called  upon  to  aid  in 
putting  the  schooner  into  proper  shape  once  more. 

Winn  was  sent  below  to  act  as  nurse  to  the  in- 
valid, and  for  many  days  he  was  kept  so  busy  that 
anything  like  a  lengthy  conversation  with  his  friend 
was  out  of  the  question.. 

Bartholomew  Gerry  was  by  no  means  a  patient 
sufferer,  and  during  the  first  week  of  confinement  to 
his  cabin  seemed  to  expect  constant  attendance  from 
the  boy  he  had  threatened  to  murder,  despite  the  fact 
that  the  regular  duties  of  a  cook  were  also  demanded 
of  him. 

Beyond  the  fact  that  his  leg  had  been  broken,  the 
mate  appeared  to  have  received  no  serious  injury, 
although  he  complained  bitterly  of  internal  pains, 
but  the  fractured  bones  did  not  knit  together  as 


A  DISABLED   BULLY.  Ill 

rapidly  as  probably  would  have  been  the  case  had 
he  received  the  proper  surgical  attendance. 

Under  other  circumstances  Winn  would  have  real- 
ized most  keenly  the  discomforts  of  a  voyage  around 
the  Horn;  but  his  time  was  so  fully  occupied  that, 
save  for  the  intense  cold  and  heavy  weather,  he 
knew  very  little  of  what  was  going  on  around  him. 

Never  once  did  Gerry  allude  to  the  threats  the 
boy  had  made ;  but  Captain  Jim  kept  him  under  con- 
stant surveillance  during  his  watch  on  deck,  which 
told  plainly  that  the  matter  had  not  been  forgotten. 

Joe  Savage  was  chosen  to  fill  the  mate's  place, 
although  he  lived  forward  with  the  rest  of  the  crew, 
and  while  the  master  of  the  vessel  was  sleeping  there 
would  have  been  many  opportunities  for  Winn  to 
talk  with  his  friend  if  he  had  had  any  spare  time. 

The  ''Flying  Scud"  was  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  be- 
fore Bartholomew  Gerry  was  so  far  recovered  as  to 
be  able  to  leave  his  cabin  to  sit  on  deck,  and  from 
that  moment  he  kept  Winn  constantly  in  view. 

To  Captain  Jim's  mystification,  however,  the  in- 
valid did  not  improve  in  health. 

Even  after  it  was  possible  for  him  to  move  around 
in  fair  weather  by  aid  of  crutches,  he  suffered  from 
severe  pains  in  his  chest,  and  the  crew  decided  that 
he  would  never  again  act  as  mate  of  the  "Flying 
Scud.'* 


11^    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"1  can  generally  have  some  pity  for  a  man  who 
keeps  on  runnin'  down  after  he  oughter  pick  up," 
Joe  Savage  said  to  Bartlett  one  day;  "but  when  I 
see  the  mate  sprawled  on  the  house  snarlin'  like  a 
bear  with  a  sore  head  hour  in  an'  hour  out,  no  mat- 
ter how  much  time  is  spent  on  him,  it  seems  a  shame 
he  should  be  allowed  to  live." 

And  the  latter  replied : 

"If  this  'ere  is  a  tradin'  voyage,  an'  I'm  beginnin' 
to  allow  all  ain't  as  we  shipped  for,  he'll  be  of 
precious  little  service  when  we  get  down  to  hard 
work.  The  cook  would  be  a  sight  better  off  if 
Gerry  should  kick  the  bucket  some  fine  night." 

"True  for  you,  Bartlett,  an'  as  I've  said  many 
a  time,  we'll  hope  he  slips  his  wind  before 
long." 

With  the  possible  exception  of  the  captain,  there 
was  not  a  man  on  board  the  "Flying  Scud"  who  did 
not  heartily  dislike  the  sick  mate,  even  though  there 
was  no  particular  cause  for  complaint  before  he  had 
been  disabled. 

As  the  schooner  neared  the  equator  Gerry  was 
more  exacting  in  his  demands  upon  Winn's  time, 
and  on  a  certain  night,  after  the  boy  had  suffered 
an  unusual  amount  of  abuse,  Joe  Savage  said,  as  the 
cook  crept  on  deck  shortly  before  midnight  to  escape 
the  stifling  heat  of  the  cabin : 


A  DISABLED   BULLY.  113 

"I  reckon  you're  gettin'  a  full  dose  these  days, 
lad." 

"It  don't  seem  possible  I  can  do  all  the  mate  ex- 
pects. I  try  my  best  to  please  him ;  but  everything  T 
do  is  wrong,  according  to  his  talk." 

"He's  startin'  in  as  he  began  just  before  the  block 
did  you  a  good  turn,  an'  there's  cause  for  it  now." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Joe?" 

"We're  gettin'  mighty  nigh  that  island  where  you 
believe  the  treasure  is  bi\ried." 

"Getting  near  it !"  Winn  repeated  in  surprise.  "I 
haven't  heard  the  captain  say  anything  of  the  kind." 

"He  don't  intend  you  shall ;  but  I  caught  part  of 
a  confab  'twixt  him  an'  the  mate  after  the  reckonin* 
was  made  this  noon.  He  allows  we'll  come  to  an- 
chor in  less  than  forty-eight  hours ;  but  ain't  countin' 
on  lettin'  the  crew  know  till  the  last  minute." 

"It  doesn't  seem  possible  we  can  have  sailed  so 
far!'^ 

"You  haven't  had  much  chance  to  count  the  days, 
lad,  because  they've  kept  you  on  the  run  every  min- 
ute. There's  more'n  me  to  see  what's  goin'  on,  an' 
when  Bart  Gerry  begins  his  game  agin  you'll  have 
the  w^hole  crew  on  your  side." 

"I  hoped  he'd  decided  to  keep  the  agreement  made 
with  Manuel,"  Winn  said  half  to  himself,  and  Joe 
added  emphatically: 


114    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

''Don't  let  your  mind  run  on  any  sich  chances, 
lad,  for  that  bully  is  countin'  on  gettin'  the  best  of 
you,  same  as  he  was  when  you  tried  to  stand  up  for 
your  rights." 

''But  he  didn't  get  a  show  to  send  me  ashore." 
..  "That  would  have  happened  if  he  hadn't  been 
knocked  out  of  time ;  but  from  what  I've  heard  lately 
I  reckon  he's  got  some  plan  in  his  ugly  head  that'll 
come  hard  on  you." 

"He's  bound  to  have  his  own  way  unless  Captain 
Jim  has  made  up  his  mind  to  help  me." 

"I  can  answer  for  it  that  he  hasn't,  lad.  This 
noon  I  heard  the  captain  say  to  Gerry  that  he'd 
leave  him  to  carry  out  the  business,  an'  I  allow  that 
means  trouble  for  you." 

"I'm  afraid  it  does,"  Winn  said  sadly,  and  at  that 
moment  the  voice  of  the  mate  was  heard  calling  for 
the  cook. 

Now  that  he  had  been  warned,  Winn  could 
readily  understand  that  the  captain  and  mate  were 
making  ready  for  the  final  undertaking  of  the  voy- 
age. 

During  the  following  day  the  two  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  their  time  in  earnest  conversation, 
and  once  Winn  saw  in  Gerry's  hands  the  chart  given 
him  by  old  Manuel. 

He  fancied  several  times  that  they  talked  together 


A  DISABLED  BULLY.  115 

concerning  him,  for  one  or  both  looked  often  in  his 
direction,  and  the  mate  emphasized  his  remarks  by 
threatening  or  angry  gestures. 

During  this  day  the  cook  was  forced  to  work 
unusually  hard,  and  at  the  earliest  moment,  after 
supper  had  been  served,  the  boy  went  into  his  cabin 
so  tired  that  further  movement  seemed  absolutely 
impossible. 

His  bodily  weariness  was  so  great  that  for  the 
time  being  mental  trouble  was  unheeded,  and  kindly 
slumber  came  to  his  relief  before  he  had  hardly  more 
than  lain  down  in  his  bunk. 

When  he  awakened  the  sun  was  streaming  in 
through  the  bull's-eye,  and  he  sprang  up  in  alarm, 
for  never  before  had  he  been  allowed  to  sleep  so  late, 
and  there  came  instantly  into  his  mind  the  thought 
that  the  time  had  arrived  when  Bartholomew  Gerry 
was  about  to  carry  into  execution  some  plan  whereby 
he  would  be  deprived  of  his  rights  under  the  agree- 
ment made  in  old  Manuel's  presence. 

He  had  "turned  in  all  standing,"  and  was  harffly 
out  of  the  bunk  before  his  hand  clasped  the  knob  of 
the  door. 

To  his  surprise  the  bolt  did  not  yield  to  his  efforts, 
and  he  pressed  heavily  against  the  barrier,  believing 
the  woodwork  was  swollen,  but  the  door  could  not 
be  opened. 


116    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Again  and  again  he  tried  to  effect  his  purpose, 
and  then  came  the  knowledge  that  he  was  a 
prisoner. 

The  'Tlying  Scud"  was  nearing  the  end  of  her 
long  voyage,  and  Bart  Gerry  did  not  propose  that 
the  boy,  who  was  really  his  partner,  should  have  any 
part  in  the  search  for  the  Aymara  treasure. 

Winn  seated  himself  on  the  edge  of  the  bunk  con- 
fused and  terrified. 

By  thus  locking  him  in  his  room  without  cause 
the  mate  showed  that  he  was  ready  to  employ  every 
means  to  defraud  Manuel  Telceda's  heir,  and  Winn 
had  good  reason  to  believe  that  his  life  was  in  grav- 
est danger. 

"He  would  have  killed  me  before  this  if  he  hadn't 
been  disabled,  and  now  unless  Joe  Savage  can  help 
me,  I  stand  little  chance  of  being  able  to  do  as  I 
promised  Manuel." 

It  did  not  seem  possible  Gerry  would  dare,  in  the 
presence  of  the  crew,  to  make  a  prisoner  of  the  cook 
without  some  plausible  pretext,  and  Winn  tried  once 
more  to  open  the  door,  almost  believing  he  had  been 
mistaken  in  supposing  it  was  locked. 

After  this  second  attempt  there  could  be  no  doubt, 
and  in  his  fear  the  poor  boy  beat  upon  the  panels 
with  his  fists,  shouting  loudly  for  Captain  Jim  and 
Joe  Savage. 


A  DISABLED   BULLY.  11? 

''What  are  you  howling  about?"  the  mate  cried 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  barrier. 

"Vm  locked  in  here,  and  can't  get  out." 

''There's  no  question  about  that,  and  you'll  find 
yourself  in  irons  if  this  racket  is  kept  up." 

"What  right  have  you  to  do  such  a  thing?  Even 
if  I  had  been  hired  as  the  cook,  you  have  no  business 
to  shut  me  up  in  here !" 

"I  don't  allow  you  ever  was  anything  more  than 
the  cook,  and  precious  glad  you  were  to  take  the 
berth  in  order  to  get  out  of  the  poor-house.  But 
we  don't  let  thieves,  whether  they  be  paupers  or 
sailors,  run  at  large  on  this  craft." 

"Thieves !"  Winn  repeated,  not  understanding  for 
the  instant  the  drift  of  the  mate's  remark. 

"That's  what  I  said.  If  you'd  been  less  of  a  fool, 
you'd  have  understood  that  it  wasn't  possible  to 
carry  on  as  you've  been  doin'  without  coming  to 
grief." 

"Do  you  accuse  me  of  being  a  thief?"  the  boy 
cried  in  a  rage. 

"I  didn't  accuse  you ;  the  crew  themselves  proved 
that  you  were  one.  All  the  things  Captain  Robin- 
son and  I  have  missed  were  found  in  your  room  last 
night,  when  you  pretended  to  be  asleep.  I  never  be- 
lieved you  to  be  an  honest  lad ;  but  yet  it  didn't  come 
into  my  mind  you  would  steal  while  on  ship-board, 


118    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

until  some  of  the  sailors  insisted  your  room  should 
be  searched.  Now  I  don't  propose  to  waste  time  on 
such  a  worthless  scoundrel  as  you ;  make  a  row,  and 
on  go  the  irons,  not  to  be  taken  off  until  the  'Flying 
Scud'  is  back  at  Fairhaven." 

Winn  was  no  longer  capable  of  either  action  or 
speech.  There  could  be  no  question  but  that  Gerry 
had  so  laid  the  plot  that  at  least  some  of  the  crew 
believed  him  to  be  a  thief,  and  it  surely  seemed  as  if 
he  was  wholly  at  the  mercy  of  his  enemy. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

COCOS  ISLAND. 

It  seemed  absolutely  impossible  for  Winn  to  think 
over  the  situation  calmly  after  the  sound  of  Bart 
Gerry's  retreating  footsteps  told  that  the  mate  had 
gone  on  deck. 

The  one  idea  uppermost  in  his  mind  was  that  if 
he  had  risked  all  and  made  the  secret  known  to  the 
crew,  it  would  have  been  better  than  thus  to  be 
branded  a  villain. 

He  knew  full  well  that  having  entered  upon  this 
plan,  neither  the  mate  nor  Captain  Jim  would  dare 
to  retreat  even  so  far  as  to  allow  him  his  freedom 
while  on  board  the  schooner,  and  for  their  own 
safety  they  must  bring  such  proof,  when  the  ''Fly- 
ing Scud"  returned  to  the  United  States,  as  would 
convict  him  of  the  crime. 

Winn  was  not  so  dull  of  wit  but  that  he  could 
understand  readily  how  the  plot  had  been  laid,  for  it 
was  so  exceedingly  simple  that  a  novice  might  have 
arranged  at  least  a  portion  of  it  with  the  certainty 
of  success. 

119 


120    THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Unquestionably,  both  the  officers  had  complained 
of  losing  articles  of  value  from  their  rooms;  very 
likely  charged  certain  members  of  the  crew  with 
theft,  and  it  would  have  been  but  natural  for  the 
men  to  insist  that  the  cook  must  be  the  guilty  per- 
son, since  he  was  the  only  one  who  had  free  access 
to  the  cabin. 

Then  it  simply  remained,  when  the  proper  time 
had  come,  for  Gerry  or  the  captain  to  secrete  in 
Winn's  apartment  the  articles  alleged  to  have  been 
stolen,  and  while  he  was  below  sleeping  the  sleep  of 
an  exhausted  boy,  so  irritated  the  crew  that  they  de- 
manded his  cabin  be  searched. 

From  what  Gerry  had  said,  it  was  most  probable 
this  was  done  on  the  previous  night,  and  the  goods 
found  exactly  where  they  had  been  placed  by,  or 
under  direction  of,  the  mate. 

During  all  this  wretched  day  Winn  had  no  fear 
that  Joe  Savage  would  believe  him  guilty;  but 
whether  the  sailor  could  convince  his  mates  or  not 
was  quite  another  question,  in  view  of  the  probable 
fact  that  the  captain  had  stated  positively  that  a 
theft  had  been  committed. 

Believing  this  to  be  true,  each  man  would  say  to 
himself  that  the  boy  was  the  only  one  who  could 
have  stolen  the  goods,  and  on  such  evidence  as  they 
might,  and  undoubtedly  would,  give  if  occasion  re- 


COCOS   ISLAND.  121 

quired,  Manuel  Telceda's  heir  must  necessarily  be 
found  guilty. 

During  the  greater  portion  of  the  forenoon  Winn 
remained  motionless  in  his  bunk  in  a  stupor  of  de- 
spair, and  then  he  was  aroused  by  the  opening  of 
the  door. 

A  tin  dish  on  which  was  a  small  quantity  of  cold 
boiled  beef  and  ship's  biscuit,  together  with  a  can  of 
water,  was  shoved  through  the  half -opened  door,  and 
Winn,  believing  the  captain  to  be  the  visitor,  leaped 
quickly  from  his  bunk  as  he  cried  imploringly : 

''Captain  Jim!  Captain  Jim!  Do  let  me  speak 
with  you  just  a  minute!  You  can't  think  I  stole 
anything!" 

The  door  was  closed  and  locked  quickly,  as  if  the 
visitor  was  eager  to  depart  lest  he  should  be  forced 
to  hold  a  conversation  with  the  wronged  lad,  and 
from  that  time  until  sunset  the  prisoner  heard  noth- 
ing save  the  gurgle  of  the  waves  as  the  schooner 
sped  on  toward  Cocos  Island. 

The  food  remained  where  it  had  been  left.  In 
his  anguish  of  mind  Winn  had  no  desire  for  or 
thought  of  it. 

An  hour  after  sunset  the  prisoner  fancied,  from 
the  change  in  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  that  her 
headway  had  been  checked,  and  he  sprang  to  the 
bull's-eye    to    look    out ;   but  from    this   point   of 


122    THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

view  nothing  could  be  seen  save  the  waste  of 
waters. 

Then,  so  suddenly  that  it  caused  him  to  start  vio- 
lently, came  to  his  ears  the  rattle  of  the  chain  as  the 
cable  was  let  go,  and  he  knew  that  the  'Tlying  Scud" 
had  arrived  at  her  destination. 

He  pictured  to  himself  the  happiness  which  would 
have  been  his  at  such  a  moment  if  Manuel  Telceda 
had  lived ;  how  eagerly  he  should  be  looking  forward 
to  the  morrow  when  the  search  for  the  treasure 
would  begin,  and  coming  from  such  dreams  to  the 
stern  reality,  his  sorrow  and  despair  seemed  to  be 
increased  tenfold. 

Now  and  then  he  heard  the  footsteps  of  the  men 
on  deck,  and  later,  understood  that  the  captain  and 
mate  had  gone  to  their  respective  rooms. 

Then  the  silence  was  profound,  and  throwing 
himself  again  upon  the  hard  bed  he  gave  full  sway 
to  his  grief  born  of  despair. 

When  the  violence  of  this  outburst  had  abated 
somewhat  he  fancied  he  heard  his  name  spoken  in  a 
whisper,  and  started  up  wondering  if  he  had  been 
asleep. 

Then  came  what  sounded  like  a  gentle  tapping 
upon  the  bull's-eye,  and  in  an  instant  he  was  on  his 
feet  looking  out  into  the  gloom  of  night. 

Nothing  met  his  eager  gaze,  however,  and  he  was 


COCOS   ISLAND.  123 

on  the  point  of  lying  down  again  when  the  tapping 
was  renewed. 

This  time  he  distinctly  saw  a  human  figure,  and, 
opening  the  bull's-eye,  he  reached  forth  his  hand. 

It  was  grasped  firmly  as  he  heard  a  friendly  voice 
whisper : 

"Come  closer,  lad,  for  it  will, be  a  serious  matter 
for  both  of  us  if  I  am  found  here  either  by  the  cap- 
tain or  my  mates." 

"Are  you  in  a  boat  alongside?"  Winn  asked  in 
surprise,  trying  again,  but  in  vain,  to  learn  how  the 
friendly  sailor  could  maintain  his  position. 

"No;  I'm  standing  on  the  main-chains.  Have 
you  seen  that  precious  mate  since  they  locked  you  in 
here?" 

"He  talked  with  me  from  the  outside,  and  said  I 
was  accused  of  stealing." 

"Ay,  lad,  so  you  are.  He  played  his  game  right 
well,  an'  in  such  a  way  that  it  will  be  hard  for  you 
to  prove  his  hand  in  it.  After  you  turned  in  he  ac- 
cused Bartlett  hot  an'  heavy  of  bein'  a  thief,  and 
then  came  the  question  of  searchin'  your  room,  for 
the  men  declared  you  was  the  only  person  aboard 
who  had  full  run  of  the  cabin.  I  was  one  of  the 
party  who  found  the  captain's  watch  an'  the  mate's 
money  under  your  mattress  when  you  was  so  nigh 
beat  out  that  we  might  have  turned  you  end  for  end 


124    THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

without  your  so  much  as  movin'  an  eyehd.  Of 
course  I  knew  what  the  game  was;  but  it  has  been 
up-hill  work  to  try  to  make  my  mates  look  at  the 
matter  through  my  eyes,  unless  I  should  tell  the 
whole  bloomin'  story,  an'  that's  what's  got  to  be 
done  sooner  or  later,  lad." 

"Bart  Gerry  won't  dare  to  keep  me  prisoner  here 
a  great  while." 

"It's  his  only  show,  an'  the  minute  he  lets  you  go 
he's  the  same  as  said  it  was  all  a  put-up  job.  Then 
will  come  the  question  of  who  did  steal  the  things? 
No,  lad,  you're  in  for  it  unless  we  can  make  a  bold 
move,  an'  what  that  may  be  goes  ahead  of  me." 

"If  the  men  don't  believe  me  innocent  now,  they 
wouldn't  when  you  had  told  the  whole  story,"  Winn 
said  after  a  moment's  thought. 

"Perhaps  not,  lad ;  still  there's  a  better  show  for  it 
if  we  let  on  why  the  mate  has  jumped  down  on  you 
so  heavy.  Whether  they  find  old  Manuel's  treasure 
here  or  not,  it  don't  stand  to  reason  the  'Flying 
Scud'  will  lay  at  anchor  a  great  while,  an'  before 
she  gets  under  way  again  we've  got  to  make  up  our 
minds  whether  you'll  go  back  to  the  States  as  a  pris- 
oner, to  be  put  into  jail  at  the  first  port  we  make,  or 
take  your  chances  of  desertin.'  " 

"But  that  would  be  the  same  as  admitting  I  really 
stole  the  things." 


COCOS   ISLAND.  125 

*'I  know  it,  lad,  yet  it  goes  a  long  ways  ahead  of 
takin'  your  chances  on  the  other  tack." 

While  one  might  have  counted  twenty  Winn  re- 
mained silent,  and  then  asked  slowly : 

'Is  this  Cocos  Island?" 

*'I  allow  it  is,  though  accordin'  to  the  captain's 
talk  we've  only  stopped  here  for  water,  an'  he 
doesn't  let  on  that  the  name  of  the  land  is  down  on 
the  chart." 

''Are  they  makin'  ready  to  go  on  shore?" 

''Bless  you,  lad,  yes.  The  empty  water-casks  are 
on  deck  to  give  colorin'  to  his  story  of  why  we 
brought  up  here.  All  the  boats  are  afloat,  an'  I 
allow  there  won't  be  any  time  wasted  after  day- 
break to-morrow  mornin.'  You  see  in  these  waters, 
an'  with  sich  a  harbor,  even  a  landsman  knows  we're 
like  to  be  forced  to  sea  at  any  minute.  With  the 
wind  from  the  west,  or  thereabouts,  we're  all  right ; 
but  let  it  come  four  points  east  or  north  or  south, 
an'  the  'Flying  Scud'  must  be  gotten  under  way. 
How  long  do  you  reckon  it'll  take  'em  to  do  this 
'ere  gold  huntin'  ?" 

"Manuel  thought  one  day  should  be  enough." 

"One  day,  lad?"  Joe  exclaimed  incautiously  aloud. 
"Why,  at  that  rate,  there's. got  to  be  a  quick  move 
made  if  you're  to  be  helped  out  of  the  hole  that 
precious  Gerry  has  put  you  into.     One  day !     Why 


126    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

it's  a  case  of  slippin'  off  to-night,  or  lettin'  him  work 
his  own  sweet  will !'' 

''Would  you  honestly  advise  me  to  run  away,  al- 
lowing the  crew  to  believe  I'm  guilty?" 

"I  would  for  a  fact,  lad.  If  we  ever  make  the 
home-port,  what  the  crew  alone  can  tell  would  make 
you  out  a  thief,  spite  of  all  the  lawyers  in  the  coun- 
try, an'  you  haven't  got  overly  much  money  to  hire 
a  lot  of  land-sharks  to  pull  you  through." 

"I'll  do  exactly  as  you  say, /Joe;  but  it  is  terrible 
to  think  of  being  left  on  the*island,  where  perhaps 
I  may  never  see  a  white  man  again." 

'*I  don't  allow  you've  got  that  to  fear,  for  this 
'ere  group  ain't  so  far  out  of  the  world  but  that  ves- 
sels put  in  now  an'  then,  though  I'm  free  to  admit 
they  don't  come  very  plentiful.  Accordin'  to  my 
way  of  thinkin'  it's  a  heap  better  than  lettin'  Bart 
Gerry  keep  on  as  he's  begun." 

**  If  it  is  possible  for  you  to  help  me  ashore  I'll 
go." 

"In  case  this  'ere  treasure  huntin'  is  done  up  by 
to-morrow  night,  I'm  afraid  I  stand  precious  little 
chance  of  lendin'  you  a  hand,  lad ;  both  watches  are 
on  deck,  'cause  it's  too  hot  in  the  forecastle  for  a 
Christian  man  to  sleep  there.  Howsomever,  I'll  see 
what  can  be  done  'twixt  now  an'  daylight.  Keep  up 
a  stout  heart,  an'  if  we  don't  outwit  that  precious 


COCOS    ISLAND.  127 

mate  it'll  be  owin'  to  our  not  havin'  had  half  a 
show." 

Then,  after  thus  trying  to  give  Winn  courage, 
when  even  a  strong  man  might  well  have  been  par- 
doned for  losing  hope,  the  sailor  disappeared,  leav- 
ing the  disconsolate  boy  standing  at  the  bull's-eye 
peering  out  into  the  darkness  as  if  there  he  could 
read  the  future. 

Sleep  did  not  visit  the  prisoner's  eyes  during  this 
night  when  the  'Tlying  Scud"  lay,  as  he  supposed, 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  Aymara  treasure. 

He  listened  intently  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to 
learn  by  the  faint  noises  which  came  to  his  ears  now 
and  then  of  what  was  being  done  on  deck,  and  when 
the  first  gray  light  of  the  new  day  stole  across  the 
face  of  the  restless  waters,  he  heard  the  captain's 
voice  in  tones  of  command. 

It  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  the  men  could  not  have 
had  time  to  eat  breakfast  before  the  sound  of  oars 
told  that  a  boat  had  put  off  from  the  schooner,  and 
then  in  rapid  succession  the  others  followed,  until 
he  knew  the  last  one  had  started. 

It  did  not  seem  probable  he  would  gain  any  fur- 
ther information  until  the  treasure-seekers  returned, 
which  could  not  be  until  after  several  hours  had 
elapsed,  and  the  boy  flung  himself  upon  the  bunk  in 
an  agony  of  grief. 


128    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

To  be  kept  a  prisoner  in  the  cabin  where  even  the 
heat  of  the  night  was  almost  unbearable,  while  the 
wealth  in  which  he  had  a  rightful  claim  was  being 
unearthed,  caused  him  such  keen  distress  of  mind 
that  for  the  time  being  he  quite  forgot  what  un- 
questionably awaited  him  if  he  should  be  forced  to 
return  to  his  native  land  on  board  the  'Tlying  Scud/' 

He  believed  two  or  three  of  the  sailors  had  been 
left  behind  to  care  for  the  schooner,  and  in  such 
case  knew  that  the  only  attention  he  was  likely  to 
receive  would  be  when  food  was  brought,  and  in  the 
excitement  consequent  upon  setting  out  to  recover 
the  treasure.  Captain  Jim  might  have  forgotten  to 
give  any  orders  concerning  him. 

Therefore  his  surprise  was  so  great  as  to  amount 
almost  to  bewilderment  when  the  door  of  his  cabin 
opened  and  Joe  Savage  entered. 

''Now,  lad,  you'll  never  get  out  of  your  trouble  if 
you  weaken  like  this,"  the  kindly-hearted  sailor  said 
as  he  laid  his  hand  gently  on  the  weeping  boy's 
head,  and  springing  to  his  feet  Winn  cried  in  amaze- 
ment : 

'*How  did  you  get  in  here?" 

"Through  the  door,  of  course.  It  4oes  seem  as  if 
luck  had  begun  to  set  our  way  at  last^  Our  precious 
mate  says  to  me  an  hour  ago,  says  h^  'You'll  stay 
aboard.  Savage,  to  care  for  the  schooner.     There's 


COCOS   ISLAND.  129 

no  show  for  a  change  in  the  weather,  an'  it'll  be  a 
loafin'  spell  for  you.  That  young  thief  must  be  fed, 
an'  when  it's  been  done  you  can  pull  away  at  your 
pipe  comfortably,  while  the  other  men  are  sweatin' 
over  the  water-casks.'  He  wanted  to  be  mighty 
friendly-like,  but  he  didn't  shut  Joe  Savage's  eye." 

"I  don't  understand  why  he  should  leave  you 
rather  than  some  one  else." 

'That's  where  the  luck  comes  in,  lad,  an'  now 
we're  bound  to  take  advantage  of  it  before  the  treas- 
ure-hunters are  aboard  agin.  What  do  you  say  to  a 
breath  of  fresh  air?" 

"Isn't  there  any  danger  they  will  see  us  from  the 
shore?" 

''Not  if  you're  careful.  First  get  into  the  cabin 
pantry  to  fill  yourself  up,  an'  then  sneak  on  deck 
where  we'll  have  a  chat." 

"I'll  go  up  at  once.  I'm  not  hungry,  an'  it 
doesn't  seem  as  if  I  ever  would  be  again." 

"Now  see  here,  Winn  Burbridge,  we'll  start  fair 
from  this  point.  You're  bound  to  eat  if  you  count 
on  ever  gettin'  the  best  of  Bart  Gerry,  an'  I'll  never 
so  much  as  raise  a  hand  toward  helpin'  out  if  you 
go  back  on  your  grub  jest  when  it's  most  needed." 

"I'll  do  as  you  say,"  Winn  replied  meekly  as  he 
started  toward  the  pantry,  and  Joe  went  on  deck, 
saying  cheerily  as  he  ascended  the  companion-way: 


130    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Make  a  hearty  breakfast,  lad,  an'  I'll  stand  watch 
meanwhile,  for  it  would  be  a  rough  joke  if  that 
precious  mate  should  take  it  into  his  head  to  turn 
back  sudden-like." 

Five  minutes  later  the  boy  appeared  on  deck,  tak- 
ing good  care  not  to  show  himself  above  the  rail, 
and  Joe  beckoned  for  him  to  come  within  the  shelter 
of  the  weather-rail,  where  he  was  lying  at  full 
length  as  if  thoroughly  enjoying  the  situation. 

"It  didn't  take  you  many  minutes  to  fill  up;  but 
short  as  the  time  was  I've  thought  out  a  plan  which 
is  likely  to  work,  an'  what's  more,  it's  the  only  thing 
I  can  get  through  my  thick  head." 

**' About  me,  do  you  mean?" 

''Sure;  who  else  would  I  be  studyin'  over  jest 
now^  ?  If  what  old  Manuel  said  about  the  treasure 
was  true,  it  stands  to  reason  they  will  begin  loadin' 
gold  before  nightfall,  an'  we'll  be  under  way  agin 
mighty  soon.  Here's  a  chance  for  you  to  say  good- 
by  to  the  biggest  villain  Fairhaven  ever  raised,  which 
is  the  same  as  if  I'd  said  the  name,  Bartholomew 
Gerry." 

"I  can't  see  how  it  will  be  possible  without  a  boat, 
unless  you  think  I  can  swim  ashore,  an'  it  must  be  a 
good  mile  an'  a  half." 

"A  little  better  than  that,  lad,  an'  Mister  Sharkee 
would  have  you  between  his  teeth  before  you  was 


COCOS   ISLAND.  131 

well  clear  of  the  schooner.  I'm  not  countin'  on 
anything  quite  so  bold  as  that,  though  I've  got  as 
neat  a  game  as  was  ever  rigged  up  by  a  sailorman. 
You  an'  me  will  take  our  pick  of  the  cabin  stores,  not 
choosin'  more'n  we  can  carry  comfortably,  an'  you 
an'  them  shall  be  hid  in  the  bunt  of  the  mainsail — 
it  hasn't  been  stowed,  as  you  can  see." 

"Then  when  the  schooner  was  gotten  under  way 
I'd  be  rolled  out  like  a  pea  from  a  pod,"  Winn  added 
with  a  mirthless  laugh,  and  woefully  disappointed 
because  this  plan  had  proven  to  be  such  a  poor 
one. 
/  "Look  here,  how  long  do  you  allow  it'll  take  to 
bring  that  'ere  gold  aboard,  providin'  it's  found?" 

"There  must  be  a  big  pile  of  it." 

"An'  Manuel  allowed  it  could  be  dug  out  in  one 
day?" 

"He  seemed  to  think  so." 

"Then  it  stands  to  reason  the  crew  will  be  a  good 
part  of  the  night  fetchin'  it  aboard.  After  dark, 
an'  while  all  hands  are  tumblin'  around  chunks  of 
gold  as  if  they  were  so  many  pumpkins,  you  should 
be  able  to  slip  over  the  rail  into  one  of  the  boats 
that'll  be  alongside  till  we  get  ready  to  sail.  I'll 
be  nearabouts  to  lend  a  hand.  We  shan't  be  troubled 
with  Mister  Bartholomew  Gerry,  Esquire,  because 
he  ain't  overly  strong,  as  you  know,  an'  knockin* 


132    THE  TREASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'round  on  shore  all  day  is  likely  to  pull  him  down 
pretty  bad." 

"But,  Joe,  you  seem  to  forget  that  Captain  Jim 
or  Gerry  will  be  almost  certain  to  find  out  before 
they've  been  on  board  an  hour,  that  I'm  not  in  my 
room." 

"I  don't  forget  it,  lad ;  it's  part  of  my  plan.  I'm 
goin'  to  report  that  you  slipped  past  me  when  I 
tried  to  hand  in  your  breakfast,  an'  jumped  over- 
board. They'll  know  to  a  ty-ty  that  you  couldn't 
swim  ashore,  an'  will  allow  you're  sailin'  'round 
inside  of  a  shark  by  that  time.  All  Gerry  wants  is 
to  have  you  out  of  the  way,  an'  I'll  go  bail  he  don't 
fret  much  on  account  of  it,  because,  don't  you  see, 
it  winds  up  his  game  in  great  shape." 

"But  isn't  it  likely  they'll  search  the  schooner  to 
make  certain  you're  telling  the  truth?" 

"I  don't  believe  it;  but  suppose  they  should?  I 
don't  allow,  seein's  how  all  hands  are  nervous  an' 
excited-like  over  findin'  the  gold,  that  they'll  have 
sense  enough  to  look  in  the  bunt  of  the  mainsail. 
It's  bound  to  be  a  scorchin'  hot  place;  but  you  can 
stand  a  bit  of  heat  for  the  sake  of  parting  company 
with  Bartholomew  Gerry." 

"I'd  be  willing  to  take  bigger  chances  if  there  was 
anything  rather  than  this  lonely  island  ahead  of 
me. 


COCOS   ISLAND.  133 

**We  can't  make  matters  different  in  that  line,  my 
boy,  and  it's  for  you  to  decide  whether  we'll  play 
the  game  or  not." 

''Of  course  I  shall  try  it  if  you  can't  think  of  any- 
thing better,  Joe." 

''Anything  better  ?  Why,  Winn,  it'll  be  a  reg'lar 
lark  to  loaf  'round  that  'ere  island  for  two  or  three 
months,  an'  when  a  ship  comes  along  you'll  have 
been  left  behind  by  the  schooner  'Flying  Scud.' 
Then  it's  a  case  of  tryin'  your  luck  in  some  other 
country  where  Bart  Gerry  ain't  likely  to  run  across 
you." 

"But  suppose  I  can't  get  over  the  rail  without 
being  seen?" 

"That's  the  only  part  of  the  trick  where  we've  got 
to  take  many  chances,  an'  I  believe  it  can  be  done 
without  or  more'n  half  tryin' ;  but  if  we  fail  up,  you 
won't  be  any  worse  off  than  you  are  now." 

"They'll  know  you  told  a  lie." 

"That  won't  give  me  any  great  pain.  When  you 
have  to  deal  with  sich  as  Bart  Gerry,  I  claim  any- 
thing crooked  is  straight." 

Having  decided  to  adopt  Joe's  plan,  Winn  was 
eager  to  set  about  the  preliminaries  at  once,  and  the 
sailor  went  with  him  to  the  pantry  to  select  such  an 
assortment  of  stores  as  could  be  most  conveniently 
carried. 


134    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Half  a  dozen  tins  of  meat  and  biscuit ;  pepper,  salt, 
a  side  of  bacon,  and  a  small  store  of  tobacco  were  set 
aside  by  Joe  as  articles  which  would  be  most  needed 
by  the  fugitive. 

Winn  objected  to  the  tobacco  on  the  ground  that 
he  neither  chewed  nor  smoked,  therefore  it  would  be 
useless  to  burden  himself  with  the  stuffy  but  Joe  was 
determined  this  particular  article  should  form  a  por- 
tion of  the  stock. 

"I'll  allow  you  don't  use  it  now,  lad;  but  after 
you've  been  alone  a  spell  it'll  be  reg'lar  comfort  to 
learn,  so  in  the  tobacco  goes,  an'  we'll  hope  the  cap- 
tain or  mate  don't  miss  what  we've  taken." 

Then  Joe  brought  a  canvas  clothes-bag,  a  revolver 
and  a  small  amount  of  ammunition,  from  the  fore- 
castle, saying  as  he  began  packing  the  provisions  in 
the  bag: 

'T  reckon  this  little  donation  of  mine  will  come 
in  handy,  an'  I  don't  have  any  great  call  for  the 
collection.  You'll  need  something  to  defend  your- 
self with,  an'  the  shootin'-iron  does  me  about  as 
much  good  as  a  sheath-knife  would  an  old  woman." 

"It  isn't  right  for  you  to  rob  yourself,"  Winn  said 
in  feeble  protest. 

"You  needn't  fear  I'll  do  anything  so  foolish,  lad. 
It  would  please  me  mightily  if  I  could  give  you  a 
better  start.     A  good  boat  would  be  worth  all  this 


COCOS   ISLAND.  135 

'ere  stuff,  an'  it  may  be  you'll  get  your  hands  on 
one." 

"Manuel's  dory  belongs  to  me." 

"So  it  does;  but  we  won't  be  partic'lar  about 
pickin'  her  out  if  she  ain't  handy." 

Then  Joe  set  about  forming  a  hiding-place  for 
Winn  by  shaking  out  the  sail  here  and  there,  and  so 
arranging  the  folds  that  he  would  not  be  deprived 
of  air. 

This  done,  and  after  a  series  of  signals  were  ar- 
ranged between  the  two,  so  that  Winn  would  under- 
stand when  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  venture 
forth,  and  know  on  which  side  of  the  schooner  a  boat 
could  be  found,  the  two  made  themselves  comfort- 
able in  such  positions  as  admitted  of  their  keeping 
watch  upon  the  shore. 

Joe  told  stories  of  shipwrecked  sailors,  detailing 
how  they  had  been  able  to  better  their  situation,  and 
otherwise  giving  Winn  much  good  advice  in  the 
guise  of  a  "yarn." 

Again  and  again  the  two  discussed  the  probabili- 
ties of  success  when  the  moment  for  leaving  the 
schooner  should  come,  and  twice  before  nightfall 
did  they  eat  a  substantial  meal. 

Winn  was  heartened  as  much  by  the  conversation 
as  by  the  food,  and  when,  shortly  after  sunset,  the 
schooner's  boats  could  be  seen  putting  off  from  the 


136    THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

shore,  the  boy's  courage  was  wonderfully  good  in 
view  of  the  perils  by  which  he  was  surrounded. 

"It'll  be  dark  by  the  time  the  foremost  boat,  which 
I  allow  is  bringing  the  captain,  comes  alongside,  an' 
everything  is  workin'  your  way,"  Joe  said  cheerily  as 
he  led  Winn  to  the  hiding-place.  ''J^^P  ^^>  ^^^P 
under  cover  a  couple  of  hours,  an'  then,  if  they  don't 
freight  the  gold  aboard,  you'll  be  stowed  away  on 
shore  where  Bart  Gerry  can't  get  his  eye  on  you 
unless  through  your  own  carelessness." 

Winn  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  ten  minutes  later 
he  could  hear  the  voices  of  the  men  as  they  swarmed 
up  over  the  rail. 

A  full  day  had  been  spent  in  searching  for  the 
Aymara  treasure,  with  Manuel  Telceda's  chart  to 
guide  them  in  the  task,  and  the  boy  who  had  been 
so  cruelly  wronged  did  not  doubt  but  that  it  was 
already  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Robinson  and 
Bartholomew  Gerry. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FREEDOM. 

As  may  be  imagined,  Winn  was  keenly  on  the 
alert  for  such  conversation  as  might  give  him  a 
clew  to  what  had  been  done,  and  how  the  news  of 
his  escape  was  received. 

In  the  effort  to  ascertain  this  fact  he  was  more 
successful  than  he  had  dared  to  hope,  thanks  to  Joe, 
who  intentionally  made  his  report  to  the  captain 
where  the  boy  could  readily  overhear  it. 

In  fact,  it  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  the  old  sailor  was 
standing  within  a  few  inches  of  his  place  of  conceal- 
ment when  he  said : 

"I'm  mighty  sorry,  Captain  Robinson,  to  have  to 
report  that  most  likely  the  sharks  have  gobbled  up 
Winn  Burbridge." 

"Sharks  ?"  Captain  Jim  repeated. 

"Ay,  sir.  When  I  carried  the  ungrateful  little 
villain  his  breakfast,  what  does  he  do  but  make  a 
rush  out,  upsetting  me  and  getting  on  deck  before 
I  could  so  much  as  say  'Jack  Robinson.'  Then " 

"Didn't  you  have  sense  enough  to  think  he  might 

137 


138    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

try  some  such  game  as  that?"  Winn  heard  Bart 
Gerry  interrupt  angrily. 

''I  didn't  allow  he'd  be  so  crazy  as  to  go  over  the 
rail  where  the  sharks  are  as  thick  as  blackberries  in 
'Squire  Kelly's  pasture.  Even  if  you'd  warned  me 
to  look  out  for  any  sich  trick,  I'd  'a'  said  to  myself  he 
couldn't  done  more'n  give  me  a  chase  'round  the 
decks  for  a  spell.  But  it  must  have  been  in  his  head 
to  kill  hisself  rather  than  go  back  to  Fairhaven  an' 
be  tried  for  stealin',  'cause  he  took  to  the  water  as  if 
he'd  made  up  his  mind  for  it  beforehand." 

"Are  you  certain  he  didn't  swim  ashore?"  Cap- 
tain Jim  asked  anxiously,  and  Gerry  said  with  a 
laugh,  as  if  the  news  of  the  boy's  probable  death 
pleased  him : 

"How  far  do  you  reckon  he  or  anybody  else  could 
swim  where  the  water  is  fairly  alive  with  sharks?" 

"Of  course  it  stands  to  reason  he  didn't  live  many 
minutes  after  goin'  over  the  rail.  How  long  could 
you  keep  him  in  sight.  Savage?" 

"I  never  so  much  as  saw  him  in  the  water,  sir, 
an'  allow  he  was  gobbled  up  before  he  came  to  the 
surface." 

"It's  the  most  sensible  thing  he  could  have  done," 
Gerry  said,  and  to  Winn's  intense  delight  there  was 
not  so  much  as  a  suggestion  made  that  the  schooner 
be  searched  to  learn  if  he  was  still  on  board. 


FREEDOM.  139 

Now  it  was  only  a  question  how  long  the  'Tlying 
Scud"  would  remain  at  her  anchorage,  and  on  this 
point  the  fugitive's  mind  was  very  speedily  set  at 
rest. 

He  heard  Joe  say  in  a  tone  of  sadness : 

"Vm  afraid  I'm  to  be  blamed  for  the  lad's  death, 
sir,"  and  Gerry  replied  promptly : 

*'Don't  bother  your  head  about  that,  my  man.  He 
showed  more  pluck  than  I  gave  him  credit  for,  and 
was  wise  in  doing  it,  for  there's  no  question  but  that 
he'd  have  gotten  a  long  term  in  jail  if  he'd  gone 
back  with  us.  Lend  a  hand  there  with  those  water- 
casks,  for  you're  the  only  one  of  the  crew  who  isn't 
fagged  out  with  this  day's  work." 

The  sound  of  footsteps  told  that  Joe  had  obeyed 
this  command  promptly,  and  then  Winn  heard  the 
captain  say  in  a  low  tone  to  the  mate : 

"We  have  driven  the  boy  to  his  death,  Bart,  and 
all  to  no  purpose,  for  it  is  certain  some  of  Telceda's 
people  have  been  here  before  us,  and  carried  it  away." 

"I'm  not  willing  to  admit  that,"  Gerry  replied 
angrily. 

"Then  you're  making  a  fool  of  yourself,  for 
there's  no  question  but  that  we  found  the  place  old 
Manuel  marked  out  on  the  chart,  and  there's  been 
digging  done  around  it  enough  to  have  unearthed 
three  such  treasures  as  he  told  about." 


140     THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Winn's  heart  beat  violently,  and  at  risk  of  betray- 
ing his  whereabouts  he  pushed  the  canvas  aside  yet 
further  in  order  that  he  might  make  certain  of  hear- 
ing the  reply. 

*'ril  admit  some  one  has  worked  in  the  very  place 
Telceda  said  the  gold  was  buried ;  but  I  tell  you,  Jim, 
that  amount  of  treasure  ain't  carried  away  without 
such  fact  leaking  out,  and  we  should  have  heard  if  it 
had  been  dug  up  by  sailors." 

"1  don't  see  why  you  are  so  certain  of  that.  Sup- 
posing we'd  found  it — do  you  think  we'd  be  runnin' 
'round  tellin'  of  it?" 

^'It'would  leak  out  in  spite  of  all  we  could  do,  for 
the  crew  wouldn't  hold  their  tongues." 

*'Well,  admitting,  which  I  don't,  that  your  view 
of  it  be  correct,  what  do  you  gather  from  the  signs 
on  shore?" 

"My  idea  of  it  is  that  some  one  who  had  an  ink- 
ling of  where  the  treasure  might  be  found  has  been 
here  and  made  a  try  for  the  gold — most  likely 
found  it". ^ 

"Then  you  admit  that  we've  come  on  a  wild-goose 
chase?" 

"I  don't  admit  anything  of  the  kind." 

"Look  here,  Bart,  say  what  you've  got  in  your 
mind  an'  have  done  with  it.  What's  the  use  beating 
about  in  this  fashion  ?     If  any  one  has  dug  for  gold 


Winn's  heart  beat  violently,  as  he  pushed  the  canvas  yet  further  aside  that 
he  might  hear  the  conversation.— Page  140.      The  Treasure  of  Cocos  Island, 


FREEDOM.  141 

and  found  it,  how  can  it  profit  us  to  hang  on  here 
any  longer?" 

"For  a  man  who  has  knocked  around  the  world  as 
much  as  you  have,  Jim  Robinson,  you're  the  stupid- 
est I  ever  saw.  Did  you  notice  anything  on  the 
beach  nearabout  where  we  landed?" 

''You  mean  in  the  way  of  foot-prints?  I  saw 
them,  and  allow  that  some  ship's  crew  has  landed 
here  within  a  short  time." 

"And  if  you'd  hunted  for  the  sign  of  a  boat's  keel 
on  the  sand,  as  I  did  nearabout  where  the  footprints 
were,  you  wouldn't  have  found  it." 

''Go  on,  go  on,  Bart !"  Captain  Jim  said  hoarsely. 
"I'm  beginnin'  to  understand  what  you  mean !" 

"You  should  have  understood  it  this  morning.  I 
believe  some  of  old  Telceda's  chums  have  been  here 
searching  for  the  treasure — perhaps  found  it ;  but  I'll 
take  my  oath  it's  on  the  island  to-night." 

"That's  as  much  as  if  you  said  they  were  here 
yet!" 

"The  footprints  on  the  beach  prove  it." 

"By  heaven,  if  any  one  is  here  with  the  treasure 
in  his  possession,  he'll  be  a  poorer  man  when  we 
leave!" 

"That's  what  I  like  to  hear,  Jim  Robinson;  it 
sounds  as  if  you  might  be  depended  on." 

"Might  be?     Show  me  the  man  who  can  say  my 


142    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAJ^D. 

word  is  not  as  good  as  my  bond — I  mean,  it  was 
before  I  started  on  this  cruise." 

''You're  too  soft-hearted,  Jim,  and  for  that  rea- 
son I  didn't  talk  about  what  I  saw  until  we  were 
where  it's  certain  no  one  is  listening.  We've  got  rid 
of  the  boy,  and  will  put  a  stopper " 

"Hold  up,  Bart,  I'd  rather  not  talk  of  the  poor 
lad  we  drove  to  his  death,  for  that's  what  we  did  do." 

''There  you  go  again !  You  may  be  a  good  cap- 
tain in  some  ways ;  but  when  it  comes  to  solid  work 
you  can't  be  depended  on,  and  I  say  it  again.  Now, 
instead " 

"Boat  ahoy !"  one  of  the  crew  shouted,  and  Winn 
heard  Gerry  ask  angrily : 

"What's  the  matter  with  you,  Bartlett?  Too 
much  liquor?" 

"What's  wrong  with  hailin'  a  boat  when  you  see 
one?"  the  sailor  asked  surlily. 

"There  isn't  a  craft  within  a  dozen  miles  of  us — 
I  do  see  what  looks  like  a  raft !"  and  there  was  some- 
thing very  like  fear  in  the  mate's  tone  as  he  made 
this  last  assertion. 

"It's  most  likely  a  shipwrecked  man,"  Captain 
Robinson  said  impatiently.  ~"I  wish  to  heaven  the 
fellow  had  kept  away  from  us  till  after  this  business 
is  over ;  we've  got  witnesses  enough  already,  without 
adding  to  the  number  just  now." 


FREEDOM.  143 

So  great  was  the  confusion  immediately  after  this 
remark  had  been  made  that  Winn  was  unable  to 
determine  exactly  what  was  being  done,  but  a  few 
moments  later  he  fancied  the  bustle  and  noise  had 
been  caused  by  the  coming  on  board  of  the  stranger 
regarding  whom  the  captain  and  mate  had  b'een 
speaking. 

He  heard  Gerry  say  to  some  member  of  the  crew : 

''Let  them  bring  the  man  here,  and  then  the  rest 
of  you  attend  to  getting  supper." 

It  was  not  strange  the  man  should  give  this  com- 
mand, for  he  was  unable,  because  of  weakness  con- 
sequent upon  his  illness,  to  do  much  in  the  way  of 
exercise,  and  probably  the  exertions  of  the  day  had 
thoroughly  exhausted  him. 

Thus  it  was  that  Winn  overheard  the  conversa- 
tion which  followed  better  than  if  he  had  been  at  lib- 
erty, for  the  two  officers  spoke  in  low  tones  as  if 
fearful  lest  the  members  of  the  crew  should  over- 
hear them. 

"Where  are  you  from,  my  man  ?"' Captain  Jim 
asked. 

''Cocos  Island." 

"Do  you  mean  this  land  here  ?"  and  it  was  evident 
from  his  tone  that  Gerry  was  surprised  by  the  an- 
swer. 

"This  is  the  only  Cocos  Island  I  know  of." 


144    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

**  Where  were  you  when  we  landed  this  morn- 
ing?" 

''On  the  other  side  of  the  island  where  is  my  hut. 
It's  the  first  day  since  landing  that  I  haven't  kept 
sharp  watch  for  a  sail,  and  to  think  you  might  have 
gone  without  my  knowing  of  your  visit  until  it  was 
too  late!     Where  are  you  bound  for,  sir?" 

"Nowhere  in  particular  just  now.  Tell  me  how 
you  came  here  ?" 

"I  was  set  ashore  at  my  own  request  from  the 
bark  'Mermaid.' 

"In  order  that  you  might  look  for  the  Aymara 
treasure?"  Gerry  said  suddenly  and  sharply,  and 
Winn  heard  the  stranger  utter  a  low  cry  of  aston- 
ishment. 

"How  do  you  know  anything  about  that?"  he 
asked  eagerly. 

"Did  you  ever  hear  of  one  Manuel  Telceda." 

"Hear  of  him?     He  is  my  friend." 

"You  mean  he  was.  Telceda  died  on  board  this 
schooner  just  after  we  left  the  coast  of  Venezuela. 
We  were  bringing  him  here  for  the  same  purpose 
that  you  came." 

There  was  a  brief  pause,  and  then  Winn  heard 
the  stranger  ask  eagerly : 

"In  whose  interest  are  you  working?" 

"In  our  own  for  the  greater  part,"  Captain  Jim 


FEEEDOM.  145 

replied  with  a  laugh,  and  before  he  could  speak  fur- 
ther Gerry  interrupted  him  by  saying : 

''We  fitted  out  this  vessel  under  an  agreement  that 
two-thirds  of  the  treasure  should  be  ours,  and  the 
remainder  delivered  to  Telceda  or  his  friends.  We 
shall  still  hold  to  the  bargain." 

"Manuel  had  no  right  to  dispose  of  as  much  as 
that.     It  belongs  to  our  people." 

''And  much  good  will  it  do  them.  Telceda  landed 
at  Cuman  and  hunted  in  vain  for  any  one  whom  he 
formerly  knew,"  Captain  Jim  hastened  to  say,  and 
Gerry  added,  as  if  his  partner's  method  of  conduct- 
ing the  conversation,  did  not  meet  with  his  ap- 
proval : 

"We're  ready  to  fulfil  the  terms  of  the  agreement, 
and  shall  be  sorry  if  it  fails  to  meet  with  your  ap- 
proval, although  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea  who 
you  may  be." 

"That  matters  little.  It  is  enough  if  I  say  that 
not  one  gold  piece  shall  be  taken  away  on  such  a 
bargain  as  you  claim  Manuel  made." 

"May  I  ask  how  you  will  prevent  it?" 

"There  is  no  need  for  me  to  do  anything  save 
hold  my  tongue." 

"Then  it  was  you  who  dug  in  the  spot  where 
Manuel  says  the  gold  was  buried?'* 

"It  was." 


146    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"And  you  have  hid  it  elsewhere  in  order  to  de- 
fraud your  people  of  their  share?" 

"Yesterday  I  couldn't  have  told  why  I  performed 
such  labor;  but  now  I  understand." 

"Understand  what  ?" 

"That  I  was  warned  of  your  arrival  by  the  spirits 
of  my  people." 

At  this  point  it  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  the  mate  lost 
control  of  his  temper,  for  he  said  contemptuously: 

"Warned  by  your  grandmother !  You  don't  want 
to  make  such  talk  to  us,  for  we're  not  likely  to  listen 
to  it  patiently.  Having  spent  several  thousand  dol- 
lars at  the  request  of  the  man  who  aided  in  burying 
the  treasure,  w^e  are  not  likely  to  allow  the  voyage 
to  be  a  losing  one  while  the  gold  is  still  here.  How 
do  you  count  on  getting  the  stuff  away  if  we're  so 
foolish  as  to  let  you  defraud  us  of  it?" 

"I  shall  await  the  arrival  of  another  vessel,  and 
offer  to  her  commander  one-tenth  part  of  the  whole 
if  he  will  transport  it  and  me  to  Venezuela." 

"How  many  vessels  have  touched  here  since  you 
landed?" 

"Yours  is  the  first." 

"And  you're  likely  to  stay  until  doomsday  before 
you'll  find  a  captain  who'll  carry  away  millions  and 
content  himself  with  a  tenth  part." 

"I  have  already  waited  nearly  the  full  span  of  life 


FREEDOM.  147 

in  the  hope  of  delivering  their  own  to  my  people.  I 
can  wait  yet  longer,  and  if  death  overtakes  me  with 
the  work  still  undone,  the  failure  will  not  be  any 
fault  of  mine.     Do  you  refuse  my  terms?" 

"We  recognize  only  the  bargain  made  with  Tel- 
ceda,"  Gerry  said  sharply,  and  an  instant  later  a  cry 
of  dismay  burst  from  his  lips. 

"The  scoundrel  has  left  us!"  he  shouted,  and 
added  in  a  yet  louder  voice,  "Forward  there !  Some 
of  you  fellows  jump  into  the  boat  and  catch  that 
man !  Don't  handle  him  roughly,  but  be  certain  you 
bring  him  back !  Lively,  boys,  it's  worth  ten  dollars 
to  the  one  who  overhauls  him." 

An  instant  later  it  was  impossible  for  Winn  to 
guess  what  was  being  done,  save  that  he  knew  the 
men  were  obeying  the  command,  and  while  He  re- 
mained in  a  fever  of  excitement,  almost  tempted  to 
brave  everything  for  the  sake  of  knowing  whether 
the  capture  was  effected,  he  heard  the  signal  agreed 
upon  between  Joe  and  himself. 

Without  hesitation  he  quickly  made  his  way  from 
among  the  folds  of  canvas,  dragging  after  him  the 
bag  of  provisions,  and  stood  on  the  starboard  side  of 
the  boom,  uncertain  in  which  direction  to  proceed 
until  he  was  seized  by  the  arm  as  Joe  whispered : 

"Now's  your  time,  lad,  and  the  luck  couldn't  be 
working  more  in  our  favor.     All  hands  have  taken 


148    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

to  the  boats  in  the  hope  of  earning  that  ten  dollars, 
and  your  dory  is  made  fast  just  alongside  just  for- 
ward of  the  fore-rigging.  Get  into  her  as  quick  as 
you  know  how." 

Involuntarily,  Winn  glanced  around  and  saw  the 
captain  and  mate  hanging  over  the  port-rail  as  they 
urged  the  sailors  forward  in  the  chase,  by  repeating 
loudly  the  reward  which  would  be  paid  to  the  one 
who  first  laid  hands  on  the  stranger. 

At  that  moment  the  boy  who  was  accused  of  theft 
might  have  walked  leisurely  forward  and  aft  with- 
out attracting  attention,  so  engrossed  were  the  two 
men  in  the  pursuit,  and  there  was  nothing  to  prevent 
him  from  making  his  escape. 

*Tull  well  out  to  sea,  and  then  circle  around  the 
schooner,"  Joe  whispered.  "Take  it  easy,  for  there's 
no  danger,  providin'  you  don't  get  too  near  the 
island  until  that  'ere  chase  is  ended.  I'll  go  ashore 
to-morrow,  most  likely,  an'  do  my  best  to  find  you. 
So  that  you  keep  out  of  sight  all  will  be  well,  for  it 
is  believed  you're  dead." 

This  much  Winn  already  knew,  and  replying  that 
he  would  be  on  the  lookout  after  sunrise,  he  slipped 
softly  over  the  rail. 

Joe  cast  the  painter  loose,  and  the  light  night  wind 
forced  the  dory  away  from  the  side  of  the  "Flying 
Scud"  until  she  was  swallowed  up  by  the  darkness. 


FREEDOM.  149 

The  fugitive  understood  fully  the  danger  to  which 
he  would  be  exposed  if  he  rowed  toward  the  shore 
while  the  chase  was  in  progress,  and  to  avoid  the 
possibility  of  a  mistake  he  made  no  effort  at  direct- 
ing the  course  of  the  boat  until  the  cries  of  the  men 
told  that  they  had  returned  to  the  schooner. 

No  shouts  of  rejoicing  were  to  be  heard,  therefore 
Winn  felt  confident  the  stranger  had  made  good  his 
escape;  but  at  the  time  he  did  not  realize  how  this 
might  affect  him  in  any  way. 

It  was  nearly  an  hour  before  he  took  up  the  oars, 
and  then  he  had  the  dark  shadow  of  the  island  to 
guide  him  on  the  desired  course. 

He  rowed  smartly  past  the  schooner,  going  so 
near  that  it  was  possible  to  hear  the  hum  of  voices 
from  her  deck,  and  gained  the  shore  at  nearly  the 
same  point  where  the  sailors  had  landed  in  the  morn- 
ing. 

Here  a  long  line  of  rock  formed  a  natural  break- 
water where  he  could  run  the  dory  directly  up  on  the 
beach  without  danger  of  being  overturned,  and  once 
ashore  there  was  a  hymn  of  thanksgiving  in  his 
heart  that  at  last  he  was  free  from  those  who  were 
content  only  when  believing  him  to  be  dead. 

Now  came  the  question  as  to  what  he  should  do 
with  the  boat. 

His  one  desire  was  to  keep  her,  for  without  a 


150    THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

craft  of  some  kind  it  would  be  impossible  to  board 
any  vessel  which  might  heave-to  off  the  island,  and 
yet  he  knew  the  sailors  would  most  likely  find  her 
next  morning,  however  much  time  he  spent  in  trying 
to  hide  her. 

The  only  safe  course  was  to  set  the  dory  adrift, 
and  it  was  much  like  parting  with  an  old  friend  when 
he  pushed  her  off  into  deep  water  where  she  would 
feel  the  weight  of  the  wind  and  current. 

Many  days  had  he  and  Manuel  spent  in  that  same 
dory,  and  she  was  the  only  tie  which  bound  him  to 
the  old  life  that  was  at  least  free  from  care,  even 
though  he  called  the  poor-farm  his  home. 

"I'd  take  a  good  many  risks  for  the  sake  of  keep- 
ing her,''  he  said  with  a  long-drawn  sigh;  "but  it 
wouldn't  pay  to  be  so  foolish,  for  Bart  Gerry  would 
understand  the  whole  business  if  he  saw  her." 

It  was  too  late  to  search  for  a  desirable  spot  in 
which  to  spend  the  night ;  he  must  stop  where  he  was 
until  the  sun  should  rise,  and  then  see  to  it  that  he 
found  a  place  of  concealment,  which  last  would  not 
be  a  simple  matter,  since  it  was  more  than  probable 
the  "Flying  Scud's"  crew  would  overrun  the  island 
during  the  coming  day. 

Under  other  circumstances  Winn  might  have 
thought  it  hard  lines  to  be  forced  to  sit  under  a  tree 
so  near  the  beach  that  the  sand-fleas  made  them- 


FREEDOM.  151 

selves  disagreeably  friendly ;  but  the  knowledge  that 
he  had  escaped  from  those  who  would  not  have 
scrupled  to  kill  him  in  order  to  add  to  their  gains, 
caused  the  discomforts  to  seem  as  nothing. 

He  even  spent  a  portion  of  the  time  in  slumber, 
and  was  in  a  certain  degree  refreshed  when  the  faint 
line  of  light  in  the  east  told  that  a  new  day  was 
about  to  begin. 

He  wished  to  remain  so  near  the  tiny  harbor  that 
he  could  have  a  view  of  all  who  came  ashore  from 
the  schooner,  in  order  to  learn  if  Joe  Savage  was 
among  them,  and  to  effect  such  purpose  it  was 
necessary  he  find  a  hiding-place  in  some  tree,  since 
the  densest  thicket  would  be  all  too  open  to  screen 
him  from  the  inquisitive  eyes  of  the  sailors. 

Not  until  after  he  had  with  difficulty  swarmed  up 
the  third  tree  was  he  satisfied  with  his  location,  and 
then  it  seemed  to  him  that  every  member  of  the 
schooner's  crew  might  pass  directly  beneath  where 
he  was  hidden  without  being  able  to  distinguish  him 
amid  the  foliage. 

The  only  drawback  to  this  secure  hiding-place  was 
that  he  would  be  forced  to  remain  there  many  hours, 
in  case  any  of  the  crew  were  left  to  guard  the  boats, 
for  he  must  necessarily  be  in  full  view  of  any  one 
on  the  beach  while  descending. 

After  no  slight  amount  of  labor  he  had  succeeded 


152    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

in  drawing  up  after  him  the  bag  containing  his 
stores,  and  once  on  this  perch  he  set  about  eating 
breakfast,  opening  one  of  the  tins  of  meat  with  his 
sheath-knife. 

It  would  have  been  better  had  he  fasted  until 
night-fall,  for  no  sooner  had  he  eaten  of  the  salt 
meat  than  thirst  assailed  him,  and  the  desire  was  all 
the  stronger  because  of  the  fact  that  he  did  not  dare 
descend  in  order  to  search  for  water. 

"I  shall  have  to  grin  and  bear  it  the  best  I  can," 
he  said  grimly.  "I'd  rather  go  thirsty  a  good  many 
hours  than  run  the  risk  of  missing  Joe  when  he 
comes  ashore.  It's  the  last  chance  I'll  have  of  seein' 
a  white  man  till  another  vessel  puts  in  here,  for  of 
course  Bart  Gerry  will  take  good  care  that  the  fel- 
low who  came  aboard  last  night  is  captured.  If  he 
has  really  hidden  the  treasure  in  another  place,  Cap- 
tain Jim  and  Bart  are  bound  to  get  hold  of  him  if 
they  want  to  handle  the  gold." 

Then  Winn  saw  first  one  boat  and  another  put  off 
from  the  schooner  until  all  three  were  afloat  loaded 
with  men,  and  the  second  day's  search  for  the 
Aymara  treasure  had  begun. 

*'I  reckon  there'll  be  more  huntin'  than  diggin', 
and  I  only  hope  the  stranger  will  give  them  the  slip, 
though  I  don't  see  how  I  shall  be  any  better  off 
whichever  way  it  turns,  for  IVe  lost  all  show  of  ever 


FREEDOM.  153 

getting  any  of  that  gold.  Even  if  the  captain  and 
Bart  hadn't  made  up  their  minds  to  cheat  me  out  of 
my  share,  this  man  who  has  been  here  so  long  would 
kick  against  my  having  so  much  as  a  dollar.  I'll 
be  playing  in  great  luck  now  if  I  get  away  with  a 
whole  skin." 

Nearer  and  nearer  the  boats  came  until  he  could 
distinguish  the  conversation  of  the  men. 

To  the  boy's  delight  he  saw  Joe  Savage  in  the 
foremost  craft,  and  knew  that  it  depended  only  upon 
his  own  skill  in  avoiding  the  remainder  of  the  com- 
pany if  he  had  a  last  interview  with  the  friendly 
sailor. 

Captain  Robinson  and  Bart  Gerry  were  also 
among  the  party,  and  Winn  heard  the  latter  say  in 
a  loud  tone  that  the  crews  of  all  the  boats  might 
hear  the  words : 

''We'll  set  about  huntin'  down  the  scoundrel  who 
gave  us  the  slip  last  night,  and  I'll  pay  fifteen  dol- 
lars to  the  man  who  catches  him,  or  divide  that 
amount  among  all  hands  if  more  than  one  has  a  share 
in  the  capture.  There's  to  be  no  shirking  this  day; 
the  man  who  doesn't  do  his  full  duty  will  have  a 
long  score  to  settle  with  me." 


CHAPTER  X. 

PETRO  GARCIA. 

The  reward  offered  by  Gerry  for  the  capture  of 
the  stranger  had  the  effect  of  emptying  the  boats  in 
a  wonderfully  short  space  of  time  after  their  bows 
grated  on  the  sand. 

Owing  to  the  eagerness  of  each  member  of  the 
crew,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Joe  Savage,  to 
earn  the  promised  money,  before  either  the  mate  or 
the  captain  could  step  foot  on  shore  every  man  had 
disappeared  among  the  foliage,  and  there  was  none 
left  to  act  the  part  of  boat-keeper. 

This  was  most  fortunate  for  Winn,  since  his  place 
of  hiding  was  in  full  view  of  this  particular  portion 
of  the  beach,  and  he  could  not  have  come  down  from 
the  tree  without  being  observed  had  any  one  re- 
mained on  duty. 

Captain  Jim  and  the  mate  followed  the  men  as 
rapidly  as  the  latter's  strength  would  permit,  and 
once  they  were  lost  to  view  in  the  distance  the  boy 
descended,  making  his  way  cautiously  through  the 
bushes  in  the  direction  taken  by  the  others,  with  the 
hope  of  coming  upon  Joe  Savage. 

154 


PETRO  GARCIA.  155 

In  this  last  he  was  not  disappointed. 

The  sailor  purposely  lingered  behind  his  comrades, 
knowing  Winn  would  be  on  the  lookout  for  him,  and 
while  yet  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  beach  the 
two  met; 

'1  allowed  you'd  be  hereabouts,  lad,  an'  didn't  run 
very  fast  after  we  were  out  of  sight  of  our  precious 
officers.  Have  you  seen  the  man  who  boarded  us 
last  night?" 

'It  was  dark  when  I  came  ashore,  so  I  didn't  dare 
to  roam  around  the  island  very  much.  I  was  sorry 
to  set  the  dory  adrift." 

''She  was  picked  up  just  after  daylight.  The 
wind  hauled  'round  about  midnight,  an'  sent  her  in 
toward  the  schooner." 

"No  one  suspected  that  I  came  ashore?" 

"Not  a  bit  of  it.  Why,  the  dory  wasn't  so  much 
as  missed  till  she  was  sighted  by  Bartlett.  Captain 
Jim  an'  Bart  Gerry  were  so  excited  over  the  stranger 
that  it  wouldn't  have  been  a  hard  job  to  steal  the 
schooner  from  under  their  feet.  The  mate  is  worked 
up  over  the  matter  till  he  comes  mighty  nigh  bein' 
in  a  fit  all  the  time.  Look  here,  Winn,  has  it  struck 
you  who  this  man  may  be?" 

"Manuel  said  Petro  Garcia  was  the  only  one  who 
might  have  come  here  to  search  for  the  treasure." 

"An'  that's  just  who  I  allow  the  crew  of  the 


156    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'Flying  Scud'  are  after  this  minute.  He  was  an 
old  chap,  an'  might  have  been  taken  for  Manuel's 
brother." 

*'I  hope  it  is  him." 

''How  much  better  off  would  you  be?" 

''I  should  feel  sure  the  money  would  go  to  those 
who  have  the  best  claim  upon  it,  an'  that  was  what 
Manuel  wished." 

''There  ain't  any  certainty  but  that  Captain  Jim 
an'  Bart  can  make  him  give  up  the  treasure,  no  mat- 
ter how  eager  he  is  for  his  people  to  have  it." 

"How  could  they  do  that?" 

"By  refusing  to  take  him  away  from  here.  He 
must  have  a  chance  to  ship  his  gold  an'  himself,  or 
else  his  people  will  see  precious  little  of  it,  an'  ac- 
cordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'  he  had  better  make 
the  best  trade  he  can.  I  heard  Bart  say  to  Captain 
Jim  last  night  that  they'd  offer  to  do  as  he  wanted 
if  he'd  divide  the  treasure,  share  an'  share  alike." 

"If  it  is  Petro  Garcia,  an'  I  show  him  the  paper 
which  Manuel  wrote,  I'm  certain  he  won't  make 
such  a  trade  as  that." 

"I  did  think  the  story  about  the  gold  was  all  in 
your  eye,  an'  that  the  old  man  was  kind  of  cracked ; 
but  now  it  begins  to  look  a  good  deal  like  fact.  Say, 
Winn,  we'd  better  push  ahead  an'  try  to  find  this 
Petro,  if  it  so  be  that's  his  name.     I  reckon  if  he's 


PETEO  GARCIA.  157 

been  livin'  here  over  a  year  he  knows  the  island  too 
well  to  allow  our  crew  to  get  hold  of  him." 

While  the  two  conversed  they  were  strolling*  lei- 
surely through  the  thicket  at  right  angles  with  the 
course  pursued  by  the  sailors,  and  at  Joe's  suggestion 
Winn  quickened  his  pace  as  if  believing  speed  was 
the  only  requisite  in  the  search  for  this  guardian  of 
the  Aymara  treasure. 

''You  don't  stand  one  chance  in  a  hundred  of 
findin'  him  that  way,  my  lad.  Have  you  got  in  your 
mind  where  Manuel  said  the  treasure  was  buried?" 

"The  crew  must  have  gone  directly  toward  the 
place,  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember  what  was  set 
down  on  the  chart." 

''Then  we'll  pull  in  a  little  toward  the  middle  of 
the  island,  an'  call  the  name  'Petro  Garcia'  every 
few  minutes.  Don't  do  too  much  yellin',  but  speak 
loud  enough  so  that  if  he's  within  half  a  cable's 
length  he  should  hear  it." 

This  suggestion  was  acted  upon,  and  the  two  bent 
their  way  nearer  the  supposed  location  of  the  treas- 
ure-, but  yet  taking  good  care  not  to  run  upon  any 
member  of  the  "Flying  Scud's"  crew,  continuing  the 
blind  search  for  half  an  hour  or  more,  when,  al- 
though hoping  for  such  a  reply,  they  were  startled 
by  receiving  an  answer  to  their  hail. 

An  instant  later  a  rustling  among  the  foliage  a 


15B    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

short  distance  to  the  right  told  of  the  whereabouts  of 
him  who  had  answered  their  cries,  and  looking  in 
that  direction  both  saw  the  face  of  a  man  peering  out 
from  amid  the  leaves. 

"Are  you  Petro  Garcia  ?"  Winn  asked,  fearing  lest 
the  stranger  might  believe  they  were  trying  to  effect 
his  capture  and  seek  refuge  in  flight  before  he  could 
be  questioned. 

"Why  do  you  want  to  know?" 

"Manuel  Telceda  had  the  care  of  this  boy,  so  to 
speak,"-  Joe  said  quickly,  as  if  fancying  he  could 
best  conduct  the  conversation.  "The  old  man  has 
given  a  lot  of  writing  to  him  about  the  treasure  that 
he  claimed  was  buried  here,  and  it  strikes  me  you 
two  had  better  have  a  talk  together." 

"Where  are  the  rest  of  the  crew  ?"  the  man  asked, 
but  not  venturing  nearer. 

"Hunting  for  you.  The  boy  has  been  hounded  by 
the  captain  an'  mate  mighty  nigh  to  death,  and  ran 
away  from  the  schooner  last  night  when  the  crew 
started  after  you.  There  was  an  agreement  be- 
tween all  hands  as  to  how  the  treasure  was  to  be 
divided,  and  before  Manuel  died  he  made  the  cap- 
tain agree  to  recognize  Winn  as  his  heir.  It  was 
because  of  that  they  set  about  trying  to  get  rid  of 
the  lad,  an'  come  close  to  doin'  it.  Are  you  Petro 
Garcia?" 


PETRO  GAECIA.  159 

;  The  man  hesitated  an  instant,  and  then  stepping 
boldly  forth,  replied: 

''I  am.  Will  you  show  me  that  which  you  say 
was  written  by  Manuel  Telceda?" 

Winn  took  from  beneath  his  garments  the  paper 
which  the  old  Indian  had  given  him,  and  Petro  read 
a  line  here  and  there  until  he  had  gained  a  general 
idea  of  the  subject. 

'M  am  satisfied  you  are  the  one  who  was  trusted 
by  my  friend.     What  would  you  have  me  do  ?" 

"If  you  are  minded,  you  can  help  this  boy  a  good 
bit — that  is  to  say,  unless  you  come  to  some  terms 
with  the  captain  of  the  schooner  about  the  treasure." 

"I  am  ready  to  aid  the  boy  if  you  will  tell  me  how 
it  may  be  done." 

'That's  what  I  can't  rightly  say.  All  he  asks  is  to 
keep  out  of  the  way  of  any  of  our  crew,  because 
while  they  think  him  dead,  he  is  safe  so  far  as  they 
are  concerned.  But  once  it's  known  that  I  lied,  and 
he  is  on  this  island,  Bart  Gerry  will  go  to  any  length 
for  the  sake  of  getting  his  hands  on  him." 

"If  that  is  all  he  needs  I  will  answer  for  it  that  he 
have  no  trouble,  for  unless  your  captain  spends  many 
days  in  searching,  he  will  not  find  my  hiding-place." 

"Then  I  reckon  my  part  of  the  work  is  done,  an' 
I'd  better  be  goin'  on  with  the  crew,  or  they  may  sus- 
pect I'm  playing  double.     If  it  so  be  we  stay  here 


160    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

another  twenty-four  hours,  lad,  I'd  Hke  to  see  you 
once  more."  And  Joe  held  out  his  hand  to  the  boy 
he  had  befriended. 

"I  will  try  to  keep  watch  of  what  is  being  done," 
Winn  replied,  shaking  the  sailor's  hand  fervently  by 
way  of  adieu,  ''and  if  it  happens  I  don't  have  a 
chance  of  seeing  you  again,  Joe,  remember  that  I 
realize  how  much  you  have  done  for  me.  Except 
for  you,  I'd  be  a  prisoner  on  board  the  schooner 
now,  and  Bart  Gerry  could  make  all  the  mischief  for 
me  he  liked." 

"I'm  glad  I  had  a  chance,  not  only  to  help  you,  but 
to  get  the  best  of  the  mate.  I've  had  so  much  satis- 
faction out  of  it  that  we're  quits,  lad.  But  we 
haven't  parted  yet,  an'  I've  got  an  idea  the  'Flying 
Scud'  will  lay  at  anchor  here  a  good  many  days  be- 
fore either  the  skipper  or  his  partner  is  willing  to 
give  up  all  hope  of  getting  at  the  treasure.  Now 
I'd  better  go.  Look  out  for  yourself,  boy,  an'  as  for 
you,  Mr.  Garcia,  I'd  advise  you  not  to  take  too  much 
stock  in  anything  our  captain  or  mate  may  agree  to. 
They  ain't  to  be  trusted,  as  Winn  can  tell  you." 

Then,  without  further  indulging  in  leave-taking, 
Joe  plunged  into  the  tangled  foliage  toward  that  di- 
rection from  which  could  be  heard  the  cries  of  the 
men  on  the  trail  of  human  game. 

Petro  looked  at  Winn  earnestly  for  a  moment  as  if 


PETRO   GARCIA.  161 

on  the  point  of  asking  some  question,  and  then  said 
abruptly : 

''Follow  me,  and  I  will  show  you  a  hiding-place 
that  your  captain  cannot  readily  find." 

"Don't  forget  that  the  crew  are  hunting  for  you, 
and  if  one  of  them  should  so  much  as  get  a  glimpse 
of  me  it  would  be  known  Joe  Savage  had  told  what 
wasn't  the  truth." 

'They're  making  so  much  noise  that  it  will  be  our 
fault  if  we  are  seen,  and  my  dwelling  isn't  far 
away." 

Petro  walked  through  the  thicket  with  the  air  of 
one  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  locality,  and 
Winn  kept  close  at  his  heels,  for  at  times  the  'foliage 
was  so  dense  that  his  guide  would  be  lost  to  view  at  a 
distance  of  a  dozen  paces. 

When  five  minutes  had  been  spent  in  rapid  travel- 
ling, Manuel  Telceda's  friend  suddenly  made  a  sharp 
turn  to  the  right,  and  then  plunged  into  the  midst  of 
what  appeared  to  be  an  impenetrable  tangle  of 
thorny  shrubs. 

Winn  hesitated,  and  from  out  the  thicket  came  the 
command : 

"Push  straight  ahead,  and  take  care  of  your  face. 
We  have  arrived  at  the  hiding-place." 

It  was  but  natural  the  boy  should  shrink  from 
what  gave  promise  of  being  a  painful  passage,  and 


162    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

just  at  that  moment  the  voices  of  the  crew  could  be 
heard  in  the  distance. 

This  was  sufficient  to  send  Winn  forward  at  a 
rapid  pace.  Had  the  way  been  beset  with  actual 
danger  he  would  have  gone  on  quite  as  rapidly,  for 
the  fear  of  being  again  in  the  power  of  Bart  Gerry 
was  so  great  as  to  overshadow  almost  everything 
else. 

The  tangle  of  thorns  seemed  more  formidable 
than  it  really  was.  After  forcing  his  way  through 
for  a  distance  of  a  yard  or  more  he  found  himself 
amid  a  veritable  thicket  of  gigantic  canes,  and  this 
passed,  he  stood  at  the  entrance  of  what  appeared  to 
be  a  cave  leading  directly  under  a  slight  elevation  of 
the  land. 

Petro  beckoned  him  on,  and  the  two  traversed  the 
narrow  tunnel-like  passage,  carpeted  with  white 
sand,  with  walls  and  roof  of  what  had  the  appear- 
ance of  limestone. 

When  thirty  yards  or  more  had  been  traversed, 
Winn  found  himself  in  a  circular  cavern,  at  the  op- 
posite side  of  which  was  another  passage  similar  to 
that  by  which  he  had  entered. 

*'By  going  through  there  you  will  come  out  on  the 
shore,"  Petro  said,  pointing  to  this  second  tunnel, 
"and  the  entrance  is  hidden  by  a  fringe  of  rocks 
which  marks  the  line  of  coast  on  the  east  side  of  the 


PETRO  GARCIA.  163 

island.  We  are  secure  here,  for  even  should  your 
captain  and  his  crew  discover  the  opening  through 
which  we  came,  we  have  but  to  continue  the  flight, 
and  one  man  could  elude  his  pursuers  for  many  days, 
so  numerous  are  the  hiding-places  which  Nature  has 
formed.     Are  you  hungry?" 

"I  am  thirsty." 

Petro  pointed  to  what  appeared  like  an  excavation 
on  one  side  of  the  cavern,  and  going  toward  it,  Winn 
found  an  opening  in  the  wall  of  rock  through  which 
could  be  seen  a  tiny  stream  of  clearest  water. 

After  quenching  his  thirst,  the  boy  opened  the  bag 
he  had  brought,  and  set  before  his  host  the  store  of 
provisions  taken  from  the  pantry  of  the  "Flying 
Scud." 

''Of  course,  these  didn't  really  belong  to  me,  but  I 
can't  believe  it  was  stealing  to  bring  them  away,  for 
I  have  earned  a  good  deal  more  by  doing  the  cooking 
on  board  the  schooner." 

Petro  paid  but  little  heed  to  this  apology. 

His  eyes  lighted  on  the  tobacco  which  Joe  had  in- 
sisted Winn  should  take,  and  he  seized  one  piece 
eagerly,  saying  with  a  glad  cry : 

"This  is  what  I  have  most  needed,  and  if  your 
captain  had  tempted  me  last  night  with  such  as  this, 
I  fear  I  should  have  been  ready  to  make  a  better 
bargain   than   I   now   would.     This   island    affords 


164    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

food  and  water,  but  I  sadly  missed  the  Indian 
weed." 

"If  we  see  Joe  Savage  again,  and  you  don't  make 
a  trade  with  Captain  Jim,  you  can  get  a  good  deal 
more." 

"I  shan't  make  a  trade  with  your  Captain  Jim, 
now  the  sailor  tells  me  he  is  not  to  be  trusted.  Sit 
down  there,  and  while  I  smoke  for  the  first  time  in 
nearly  a  year,  you  shall  tell  me  all  that  has  happened 
since  Manuel  Telceda  set  out  to  unearth  the  Aymara 
treasure." 

Winn  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  while  he  told  the 
story  Petro,  having  brought  out  a  pipe  from  amid 
the  collection  of  cooking  utensils  which  were  ranged 
around  the  pile  of  embers  that  marked  the  location 
of  the  kitchen,  enveloped  himself  in  clouds  of  smoke. 

Now  and  then  Manuel's  friend  and  countryman 
interrupted  the  boy  to  ask  certain  questions,  and 
again  he  referred  to  the  written  document  which  had 
been  left  in  Winn's  keeping,  thereby  delaying  the 
narrative  until  the  day  was  fully  half  spent. 

"Had  my  friend  lived,"  Petro  said  gravely  and 
thoughtfully,  "I  would  have  agreed  with  him  that 
three-ninths  should  be  divided  between  this  man 
Gerry,  Captain  Robinson  and  yourself,  even  though 
I  believe  it  much  too  high  a  price  to  pay  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  treasure.     Now  that  Manuel  is  dead,  I 


PETRO   GARCIA.  165 

willingly  recognize  you  as  his  heir,  and  that  share 
which  he  would  take  shall  be  yours.  We  will  divide 
the  wealth  into  six  parts,  after  paying  what  may  be 
necessary  to  transport  it  either  to  Venezuela  or  the 
United  States,  I  care  not  which." 

Winn  smiled,  but  did  not  reply,  and  Petro  asked 
quickly : 

"What  have  I  said  to  cause  you  mirth?" 

"I  was  only  thinking  that  when  we  started  on  this 
voyage  I  was  to  own  a  twentieth;  after  we  stopped 
at  Cuman  I  was  to  take  one-ninth,  and  now  it  is 
agreed  that  I  am  to  have  a  sixth ;  yet  all  the  time  I 
haven't  seen  so  much  as  a  single  dollar." 

''After  the  schooner  has  sailed,  you  shall  look  at  a 
treasure  larger  than  you  perhaps  ever  heard  of 
before." 

'Is  it  true  that  you  dug  the  gold  up  only  to  bury 
it  somewhere  else  ?" 

Petro  nodded. 

"It  must  have  been  a  good  deal  of  work  ?" 

"I  have  been  here  a  year  and  a  half,  and  labor  be- 
comes necessary  to  a  man  situated  as  I  was." 

"But  why  did  you  change  it  around?  Wasn't  it 
as  safe  in  one  place  as  another  ?" 

"Two  years  ago  Manuel  Telceda  and  I  believed 
we  were  the  only  persons  who  knew  of  its  where- 
abouts.    After  I  had  visited  him  there  came  to  my 


1G6     THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

ears  a  story  told  by  a  sailor,  who  claimed  to  have 
heard  it  from  my  people,  in  which  as  much  was  re- 
lated concerning  this  treasure  even  as  Manuel  and  I 
knew.  Therefore,  fearing  lest  some  one  might  be- 
lieve the  man  and  come  in  search  of  the  gold,  I  un- 
earthed the  entire  hoard  and  hid  it  again.  It  was  a 
long,  arduous  task,  but  of  service  to  me  because  I 
was  kept  employed  when  idleness  would  have  been 
most  dangerous,  for  men  alone  in  such  places  often 
go  mad  from  the  horrors  of  solitude." 

"Are  you  willing  to  tell  me  how  you  got  here?" 

"The  story  is  simple  enough ;  but  when  I  proposed 
to  my  friend  that  I  would  do  this  thing  he  said  it  was 
the  act  of  a  fool.  Failing  to  find  any  one  who  would 
fit  out  a  vessel  as  did  your  Captain  Robinson,  I 
shipped  on  board  a  bark  bound  for  Calcutta. 

"Although  but  a  common  seaman,  it  did  not  ex- 
cite much  curiosity  that  I  should  pick  out  our  course 
on  the  chart,  and  one  or  the  other  of  the  crew  who 
heard  the  captain  give  the  result  of  his  reckoning, 
would  tell  me  the  figures.  Therefore  I  knew  the  po- 
sition of  the  ship  as  well  as  did  her  master,  and  one 
night  when  we  were  nearest  this  island,  through  the 
aid  of  the  man  at  the  wheel,  who  believed  me  neither 
more  nor  less  than  a  discontented  sailor,  I  cut  away 
the  boat  which  hung  at  the  stern-davits. 

"I  had  a  small  supply  of  provisions  saved  from  my 


PETRO   GAECIA.  167 

rations  ;  but  the  boat,  which  could  not  be  lowered, 
as  a  matter  of  course  fell  bottom  up,  and  I  was 
unable  to  right  her  and  at  the  same  time  retain  my 
stores. 

"Therefore  it  was  I  found  myself  in  an  open  boat 
without  a  sail  and  but  one  oar,  more  than  a  hundred 
miles  from  this  place. 

''On  the  first  morning  after  deserting  the  bark  I 
believed  Manuel  had  but  spoken  the  truth  when  he 
said  such  an  attempt  to  gain  the  island  would  be  the 
work  of  a  fool;  but  yet  I  finally  succeeded,  because 
all  efforts  were  for  the  benefit  of  my  people,  not  my- 
self. Then  I  vowed  that  the  Aymara  treasure  should 
be  delivered  to  its  rightful  owners,  if  it  was  within 
my  power.  It  is  only  just  that  a  certain  portion  be 
given  those  who  aid  me  in  carrying  it  away;  but  I 
would  sooner  it  remained  here  forever  than  divide  it 
in  such  measure  as  your  captain  proposes." 

"How  many  days  were  you  afloat  in  the  boat?" 
Winn  asked,  more  interested  for  the  time  being  in 
the  story  of  the  wild  adventure  than  in  the  proposed 
division  of  the  wealth. 

"Six,  and  I  should  have  perished  from  thirst  but 
that  on  the  second  day  a  flying  fish  came  aboard, 
which  served  in  a  measure  to  satisfy  the  desire  for 
water  as  well  as  food.  On  the  fourth  I  found  a 
cocoanut  palm  floating,  on  which  were  three  nuts, 


168     THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

and  the  night  of  the  sixth  day  came  ashore  in  the 
same  cove  where  you  landed." 

"How  did  you  expect  to  get  the  treasure  away 
after  coming  alone?" 

''At  first  I  had  a  wild  idea  that  it  might  be  possible 
to  carry  a  certain  portion  in  the  boat  which  I  had  the 
same  as  stolen,  but  after  unearthing  it  I  saw  that 
even  should  it  be  possible  to  make  the  voyage,  which 
now  I  doubted,  but  an  exceedingly  small  amount,  as 
compared  with  the  whole,  could  be  taken  in  such  a 
craft." 

"Where  is  she  now?" 

"Two  days  after  I  came  ashore  the  island  was 
swept  by  a  typhoon  and  the  boat  dashed  to  pieces. 
Then  it  was  I  reproached  myself  bitterly  for  having 
made  the  venture ;  but  now  I  can  see  that  a  higher 
power  than  min'e  directed  the  course  of  events.  Had 
I  not  risked  my  life  in  the  attempt  to  gain  this  island, 
when  as  Manuel  said  it  was  folly  to  do  so,  your  cap- 
tain would  this  day  be  transferring  the  Aymara 
treasure  from  its  long  hiding-place  to  the  hold  of  his 
schooner,  and  my  people  would  be  deprived  of  their 
own. 

"Then  see  again  how  plainly  is  shown  the  hand  of 
God  in  all  this.  But  for  the  fact  that  you  had  been 
wronged — that  the  mate  and  the  captain  would  have 
deprived  you  of  what  Manuel  promised  should  be 


PETEO   GARCIA.  169 

yours — there  would  have  been  no. reason  for  you  to 
seek  me  out,  and  I  might  have  remained  alone  until 
I  died. 

'*Now,  even  if  death  overtakes  me  to-morrow,  I 
shall  yield  my  soul  up  cheerfully,  because  I  know 
you  will  do  all  that  a  boy  may  to  carry  out  the  wishes 
of  the  man  whom  you  called  your  friend.  Thus  it 
is  that  all  which  has  been  done  is  for  the  best,  so  far 
as  my  purpose  and  Manuel  Telceda's  is  concerned." 

*'I  will  most  certainly  follow  the  instructions  writ- 
ten down  on  that  paper,  so  far  as  may  be  possible; 
but  suppose  I  should  be  left  alone  on  this  island? 
How  could  I  take  such  an  amount  of  gold  from 
here  ?  What  captain  would  treat  with  me  honestly, 
taking  one-twentieth,  or  even  one-ninth  part,  for 
such  services  as  I  desired,  when  he  might  possess  the 
whole?" 

'That  I  cannot  say,  my  boy ;  if  I  could,  the  whole 
riddle  would  be  solved.  I  am  satisfied,  however, 
that  it  will  be  done  as  I  wish,  since  it  can  be  none 
other  than  God  who  has  directed  the  course  of  events 
thus  far.  What  other  power  could  have  brought 
you  to  me,  and  I  thus  learn  all  that  my  friend  would 
have  said  to  me?" 

Winn,  who  had  in  his  mind  the  terrible  thought 
that  perhaps  many  years  would  elapse  before  he 
could  find  an  opportunity  for  leaving  the  island, 


170    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

could  make  no  reply  to  this  confession  of  faith,  and, 
after  a  pause,  Petro  added : 

"I  am  satisfied  that  we  shall  succeed  in  such  a 
manner  as  would  have  pleased  Manuel,  and  we  may 
rest  content  in  the  knowledge  that  One  mightier  than 
all  men  will  lend  His  aid  in  the  work  I  am " 

Petro  ceased  speaking  very  suddenly  as  he  sprang 
to  his  feet,  for  apparently  from  the  very  entrance  of 
the  cavern  could  be  heard  the  shouts  of  the  men  who 
were  seeking  to  earn  the  reward  offered  by  Bart 
Gerry. 


CHAPTER  XL 

CAPTURED. 

Winn  started  toward  the  passage  which  led  to  the 
sea,  for  from  the  noise  he  believed  the  pursuers  were 
already  within  that  tunnel  whose  entrance  was 
shrouded  by  the  thorn  bushes. 

"Do  not  be  alarmed,"  Petro  said,  reassuringly. 
"Our  secret  is  not  discovered  yet,  although  it  may  be 
soon  if  they  are  allowed  to  search  undisturbed." 

"Why  shouldn't  we  make  our  escape  and  leave 
them  to  find  this  place  if  they  choose  ?"  Winn  asked, 
tremulously. 

He  had  good  reason  for  alarm,  since  should  one 
of  the  men  so  much  as  get  a  glimpse  of  him  there 
was  every  reason  to  suppose  the  most  persistent 
efforts  would  be  made  to  take  him  prisoner  again. 

After  having  gone  so  far  in  the  attempt  to  ruin  the 
boy,  Gerry  must,  for  his  own  safety,  get  Winn  into 
his  power  again. 

So  long  as  the  conspirators  believed  the  lad  to  be 
dead,  he  was  in  comparative  safety,  and  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  his  terror  at  this  moment  was  most  in- 
tense. 

171 


17^    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Petro  stood  as  if  undecided  what  course  to  pursue, 
and  then,  his  mind  evidently  made  up,  said  quickly : 

''Remain  here,  my  boy,  and  I  will  show  myself 
long  enough  to  lead  the  chase  in  another  direction." 

''But  they  wall  be  certain  to  capture  you!"  Winn 
cried  as  he  sought  to  detain  the  man. 

"There  is  little  fear  of  that,  since  I  am  acquainted 
with  all  the  hiding-places  on  the  island,  and  they  are 
strangers.  You  must  not  be  seen,  and  the  only  way 
to  prevent  such  a  disaster  is  for  me  to  draw  them 
off." 

"Don't  go  out !  Don't  take  the  risk !"  Winn  cried, 
imploringly,  and  at  that  instant  the  voices  of  the  pur- 
suers rang  out  again,  yet  nearer  than  before. 

"This  is  no  time  for  talk,"  Petro  said  sternly,  and 
forcibly  releasing  himself  from  the  boy's  detaining 
grasp,  he  ran  at  full  speed  through  the  tunnel-like 
passage. 

Instinctively,  Winn  followed  a  dozen  paces  or 
more,  and  then  realizing  that  by  such  a  course  he 
would  be  rendering  Petro's  efforts  useless,  stopped 
suddenly,  walking  slowly  back  to  the  circular  cham- 
ber as  a  fresh  outburst  of  yells  told  that  the  crew  of 
the  "Flying  Scud"  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  their 
prey. 

Now  the  voices  of  the  men  died  away  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  Winn  ventured  yet  nearer  the  entrance, 


CAPTURED.  173 

as  if  fancying  he  might  from  that  point  learn  what 
was  taking  place. 

In  less  than  ten  minutes  not  a  sound  could  be 
heard. 

Petro  had  accomplished  his  purpose,  but  how 
great  a  price  might  he  not  be  forced  to  pay  ? 

Even  though  familiar  with  all  the  nooks  and  cor- 
ners of  the  island,  it  was  by  no  means  improbable  the 
sailors  might  prove  to  be  as  fleet  of  foot  as  himself, 
and  a  perfect  fever  of  terror  came  upon  the  boy  as 
he  asked  himself  what  would  be  his  fate  should  this 
new-found  friend  be  captured  ? 

How  long  Winn  remained  crouching  on  the  white 
sand  of  the  cavern  it  would  have  been  impossible  for 
him  to  say.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had  been  there  many 
hours  when  the  suspense  became  so  great  as  to  be 
almost  unbearable,  and  he  crept  toward  the  entrance, 
saying  to  himself  that  Petro  must  have  been  made  a 
prisoner,  otherwise  he  would  have  returned  before 
this. 

His  fears  made  him  reckless,  and  heeding  not  the 
danger,  he  ventured  out  amid  the  thicket  of  thorns, 
listening  intently  for  some  sounds  which  should  give 
token  of  what  was  being  done. 

Save  for  the  chirping  of  birds,  the  hum  of  insect 
life,  and  the  distant  thunder  of  the  surf,  nothing 
could  be  heard. 


174    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

It  was  as  if  the  guardian  of  the  Aymara  treasure, 
as  well  as  his  pursuers,  had  quitted  the  island,  leav- 
ing the  boy  from  the  poor-farm  of  Fairhaven  as  its 
only  occupant. 

Winn  stood  trembling  with  apprehension  just  out- 
side the  screen  of  thorns,  when  from  far  away  to- 
ward the  opposite  side  of  the  island  came  a  low  hum 
of  voices,  growing  more  and  more  distinct  until 
words  could  be  distinguished,  and  he  darted  back 
behind  the  foliage,  coming  to  a  standstill  when  he 
was  fully  hidden  from  view. 

Nearer  and  nearer  approached  the  crew  of  the 
"Flying  Scud"  until  the  fugitive  could  distinctly 
hear  scraps  of  conversation,  and  the  few  words 
which  smote  upon  his  ear  with  startling  clearness 
conveyed  the  intelligence  of  Petro  Garcia's  fate. 

"We  earned  the  dollars  in  great  shape,  an'  now 
we'll  see  if  the  mate  flashes  up  the  money." 

It  was  Bartlett's  voice,  and  there  could  be  no  ques- 
tion but  that  Manuel  Telceda's  friend  had  deliber- 
ately sacrificed  himself  to  save  the  boy,  who  had  no 
real  claim  upon  him. 

Now  Winn  was  almost  beside  himself  with  fear 
and  anxiety. 

Heedless  of  detection,  he  pressed  forward  in  the 
direction  the  sailors  had  taken,  at  times  advancing 
so  near  that  the  hindermost  would  have  seen  him  had 


CAPTUEED.  175 

they  turned  their  heads,  and  again  lagging  in  the 
rear  until  the  noise  of  their  progress  was  almost  lost 
in  the  distance. 

Suddenly  it  was  as  if  the  men  with  their  captive 
had  come  to  a  halt,  and  Winn  knew  that  they  were 
on  the  beach. 

Moving  cautiously  from  tree  to  tree,  he  pressed 
forward  until  through  the  leafy  curtain  he  could 
look  upon  the  little  cove,  and  there  saw  the  sailors 
embark. 

In  the  foremost  boat,  where  was  Captain  Jim, 
Petro  Garcia  sat,  apparently  indifferent  to  all  that 
was  taking  place  around  him,  and  handling  one  of 
the  oars  so  near  the  prisoner  that  he  could  have 
whispered  to  him,  was  Joe  Savage. 

This  fact  gave  Winn  a  certain  sense  of  security, 
so  far  as  Garcia's  ultimate  fate  was  concerned. 

His  two  friends  were  together,  and  it  would  be 
strange  indeed  if  the  sailor  should  not  be  able  to  aid 
the  captive. 

With  sorrow-moistened  eyes  the  boy  gazed  out 
over  the  heaving  waters  till  he  saw  the  boat  pull 
alongside  the  schooner. 

The  men  disembarked  with  their  prisoner,  and 
Winn  knew  that  during  the  remainder  of  this  day  at 
least  there  was  no  danger  of  another  visit  from  the 
treasure-seekers. 


176    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

The  brief  conversation  he  had  held  with  Petro 
convinced  him  that  the  man  would  not  give  up  the 
secret  he  held,  even  though  threatened  with  death, 
and  Winn's  only  concern  was  regarding  the  personal 
safety  of  Manuel's  compatriot. 

During  half  an  hour  he  stood  gazing  at  the  "Fly- 
ing Scud,"  unable  to  so  much  as  distinguish  the 
movements  of  those  on  deck,  and  then,  too  deeply 
distressed  in  mind  to  remain  idle,  he  plunged 
through  the  underbrush  across  the  island,  with  no 
purpose  in  view  save  to  occupy  the  time  by  action. 

By  chance,  for  he  took  no  heed  as  to  direction,  the 
boy  suddenly  came  upon  what  looked  to  be  a  deep  pit 
dug  near  the  foot  of  five  gigantic  palm  trees,  and 
this  landmark  was  familiar  to  his  eyes,  he  having 
seen  it  many  times  depicted  upon  the  chart  Manuel 
Telceda  had  made. 

He  was  looking  down  upon  the  place  where  the 
Aymara  treasure  had  remained  hidden  so  many 
years,  and  by  the  freshly  turned  earth  could  estimate 
how  much  work  the  schooner's  crew  had  already 
done  in  their  vain  efforts  to  come  at  the  wealth. 

It  was  also  possible  to  determine  in  a  certain 
measure  the  labor  which  had  been  performed  by 
Petro. 

From  the  size  of  the  excavation  Winn  understood 
that  months  of  most  fatiguing  labor  must  have  been 


CAPTUEED.  177 

required  to  remove  so  much  of  the  soil,  and  if  such 
was  the  case,  how  long  had  the  descendant  of  the 
Incas  worked  as  a  pack-horse  to  convey  the  precious 
metal  from  one  portion  of  the  island  to  another  ? 

With  this  thought  came  the  question  as  to  where 
it  might  be  concealed,  and  there  was  a  despair  more 
keen  than  ever  before  in  his  heart  as  he  said^to  him- 
self that  the  captain  and  mate  of  the  ''Flying  Scud," 
knowing  that  wealth  amounting  to  millions  was 
buried  on  the  island,  would  not  leave  it  until  every 
foot  of  the  surface  had  been  thoroughly  explored. 

Months  might  elapse  before  they  abandoned  the 
search,  and  it  was  possible  they  would  come  upon 
the  hiding-place  in  a  few  days. 

In  either  case  Winn  was  convinced  that  neither 
the  descendants  of  the  Incas  nor  himself  would  profit 
by  the  hoard. 

"Captain  Jim  an'  Bart  Gerry  must  find  it  in  time," 
he  repeated  again  and  again  as  he  retraced  his  steps 
to  the  seashore,  bent  on  keeping  watch  over  the 
schooner,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  see  or  hear  some- 
thing which  would  give  him  a  clue  to  Petro's  con- 
dition. 

The  sun  sank  slowly  toward  the  western  horizon, 
and  until  it  descended  behind  the  restless  billows  his 
gaze  rested  on  nothing  save  the  schooner  rising  and 
falling  upon  the  swell. 


178    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

No  boat  had  put  off. 

It  seemed  impossible  any  of  the  ''Flying  Scud's" 
crew  would  visit  the  island  during  the  hours  of  dark- 
ness, and  for  his  own  welfare  it  was  necessary  he 
should  return  to  the  cavern,  for  sleep  and  food  were 
equally  needed  by  him  after  the  excitement  and 
fatigue  of  the  day. 

He  had  just  gained  the  entrance  to  the  tunnel 
leading  from  the  thorn  bushes  to  the  circular  cham- 
ber before  the  island  was  shrouded  in  darkness,  so 
rapidly  does  night  come  in  the  tropics,  and  he  was 
forced  to  grope  his  way  slowly  into  the  cavern,  after 
which  no  little  time  was  spent  in  finding  the  spot 
where  he  had  seen  the  half-charred  bits  of  wood. 

Here,  thanks  to  the  matches  which  Joe  had  in- 
sisted he  should  bring  with  him,  a  small  blaze  was 
kindled,  and  he  set  about  making  such  a  meal  as 
under  other  circumstances  would  have  been  most  en- 
joyable. 

Then,  secure  in  the  thought  that  he  would  remain 
undisturbed  until  morning,  Winn  lay  down  upon 
the  white  sand  to  sleep. 

He  had  believed  slumber  would  come  to  his  eye- 
lids instantly  it  was  summoned;  but  in  this  he  was 
mistaken. 

The  anxieties  which  beset  him  were  so  great,  so 
overpowering  now  he  was  alone,   in  comparative 


CAPTURED.  179 

safety  for  the  time  being,  that  his  mind  went  from 
one  perplexing  phase  of  the  case  to  another  until  all 
desire  for  sleep  was  banished. 

He  sat  up  with  his  back  against  the  wall  of  the 
cavern,  pushed  the  charred  sticks  together  until  the 
blaze  which  had  died  away  was  rekindled,  and  gaz- 
ing into  the  embers  as  he  had  done  on  that  night 
when  Manuel  Telceda  first  told  his  story,  Winn  tried 
to  read  there  an  answer  to  the  enigma  fate  had  pre- 
sented. 

It  was  while  he  thus  remained,  and  when  it 
seemed  to  him  as  if  fully  half  the  night  must  have 
passed,  although  in  fact  he  had  been  in  the  cavern  no 
more  than  two  hours,  that  Winn  was  brought  to  a 
standing  posture  very  suddenly  by  hearing  some  one 
near  at  hand  whistling  ''Yankee  Doodle." 

For  a  moment  he  believed  it  was  a  dream,  even 
though  he  had  not  fallen  asleep,  for  it  did  not  seem 
possible  he  could  have  heard  such  a  tune  on  that  isle 
in  the  Indian  Ocean. 

Then  he  ran  at  full  speed  to  the  entrance  of  the 
tunnel,  groped  his  way  through  the  thorn  bushes, 
and  stood  motionless  and  silent,  listening  in- 
tently. 

The  musician  was  proceeding  slowly,  as  could  be 
told  by  the  sound  of  his  voice,  and  then  the  notes 
were  checked  as  the  whistler  called  softly : 


180    THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'*Winn !  Winn  Burbridge !" 

It  was  Joe  Savage,  and  gladsome  was  the  cry  with 
which  Winn  answered. 

Guided  by  his  voice,  the  sailor  soon  stood  beside 
the  boy  whose  friend  he  had  shown  himself  to  be, 
and  Winn  asked  in  surprise : 

"How  did  you  manage  to  get  away  from  the 
schooner  ?" 

"You  see  the  captain  an'  Bart  Gerry  have  got  their 
hands  pretty  nigh  full  tryin'  to  get  the  secret  out  of 
Petro,  an'  ain't  keepin'  a  very  sharp  lookout  on  the 
schooner.  I  made  up  my  miiid  to  sneak  off  in  the 
dory  an'  take  chances  of  its  bein'  known,  but  a  better 
plan  come  into  my  head.  So  I  proposed  to  Captain 
Jim  that  I  have  a  look  around  in  the  hope  of  findin' 
where  the  money  was  buried.  You  see,  while  there 
wasn't  much  show  of  my  strikin'  it,  there  was  just  a 
chance,  an'  our  precious  officers  are  so  keen  on  the 
scent  that  they're  willin'  to  try  any  plan,  so  I'm  here 
on  lawful  leave,  an'  I  reckon  we  can  make  the  same 
game  work  for  as  many  times  as  I  may  want  to  come 
ashore  while  we  lay  here." 

"What  have  they  done  with  Petro?" 

"He's  in  the  saloon,  with  Bart  Gerry  on  guard  at 
the  companion-way." 

"Do  you  think  they  will  dare  to  kill  him,  or  any- 
thing like  that?" 


CAPTURED.  181 

**Both  of  'em  know  too  much  to  put  an  end  to  the 
goose  what  can  lay  the  golden  eggs.  I  ain't  sayin' 
but  what  he'll  have  a  precious  rough  time,  yet  I  don't 
think  either  the  mate  or  captain  dares  come  right 
down  to  anything  more'n  hard  knocks,  for  the  crew 
wouldn't  stand  it.  I  put  a  flea  in  Bartlett's  ear  by 
sayin's  that  we  might  get  into  trouble  if  the  prisoner 
wasn't  used  decently,  and  he's  whispered  it  around 
among  the  men  until,  if  Petro  Garcia  should  make 
much  of  an  outcry,  Pll  warrant  the  ship's  company 
would  take  his  part  up  to  a  certain  point,  in  order  to 
save  their  own*  skins  when  we  get  to  a  home  port. 
What  kind  of  quarters  have  you  got  for  to-night, 
lad?" 

"Come  in  and  see  for  yourself;  then  there  will  be 
no  trouble  in  finding  me  again  if  you  get  another 
chance  to  come  ashore." 

Winn  led  the  way  into  the  cavern,  after  picking 
up  some  bits  of  half-decayed  wood  to  serve  as  fuel, 
and  Joe  Savage  was  well  satisfied  with  the  boy's  tem- 
porary abiding-place. 

'•'Now  this  is  what  I  call  comfortable,"  he  said, 
throwing  himself  on  the  sand  in  front  of  the  fire  and 
lighting  his  pipe.  "I  shouldn't  mind  taking  a  turn 
at  this  kind  of  life  for  a  year  or  more,  especially 
when  I  knowed  there  was  a  mine  of  gold  outside  that 
I  could  have  for  the  carrying  off,  and  if  the  'Flying 


18^    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Scud'  was  to  sail  to-morrow  morning  I  believe  I'd 
risk  deserting.'' 

"Would  you?"  Winn  cried  excitedly;  ''would  you 
join  Petro  and  me?" 

"I  would,  lad ;  but  there's  precious  little  use  to  talk 
about  it  now,  for  you  see  Captain  Jim  and  Gerry 
ain't  goin'  to  give  over  this  treasure-huntin'  right 
away.  They'll  hang  to  Petro  until  the  crew  have  to 
interfere,  or  he  gives  up  the  secret,  even  if  it's  a  case 
of  stayin'  a  twelve-month.  Mark  you,  lad,  five  or 
six  million  dollars'  worth  of  treasure  ain't  to  be 
picked  up  every  day  by  the  captain  of  a  two-hundred- 
and-fifty  ton  schooner,  an'  it  would  be  worth  spend- 
in'  a  good  many  years'  time  if  you  was  certain  of 
gettin'  it  in  the  end." 

"Surely  they  wouldn't  stay  here  as  long  as 
that?" 

"Well,  of  course  not,  'cause  in  the  first  place  the 
stores  wouldn't  hold  out,  and  then  again  the  crew 
would  raise  a  row.  But  they'll  stay  just  as  long  as 
there's  a  show  of  gettin'  hold  of  that  'ere  gold." 

"Suppose  the  wind  should  come  up  from  any 
quarter  in  the  eastward  ?" 

"Then  we'd  have  to  pull  out,  an'  cruise  'round 
until  it  veered  our  way  again.  That's  easy  done, 
lad.  This  matter  is  goin'  to  be  settled,  accordin'  to 
my  way  of  thinkin',  by  the  amount  of  stores  we've 


CAPTUEED.  183 

got,  an'  if  you'll  remember,  there  was  a  heap  of  grub 
put  on  board  before  we  left  Fairhaven." 

''And  before  it  is  used  up  they  may  kill  Petro." 
/  "FU  answer  for  it,  lad,  that  nothing  so  bad  as  that 
will  happen,  for  it  ain't  hard  work  to  stir  up  a  crew 
of  sailormen  when  you've  got  such  a  chance  as  is 
ours  regarding  Garcia.  Captain  Jim  an'  Gerry  have 
taken  a  serious  piece  of  business  in  hand — one  that 
would  send  all  of  us  to  jail  when  we  get  home,  if  it 
was  known  —  an'  the  crew  of  the  'Flying  Scud' 
didn't  ship  for  such  work,  so  don't  you  worry  your 
head  about  him.  It  stands  to  reason  he  won't  have 
it  very  pleasant;  but  it'll  come  out  all  right  after  a 
spell." 

"Why  can't  you  help  him  escape  ?" 

"I  don't  say  it  couldn't  be  done  when  them  pre- 
cious officers  are  kinder  tired  out,  but  accordin'  to 
my  way  of  thinkin'  it  ain't  the  wisest  thing,  'cause 
they'd  only  send  the  crew  ashore  again  to  catch  him, 
an'  it  would  be  the  same  business  right  over.  Let 
the  matter  work  itself  out  now,  an'  our  time  will 
come ;  that  you  can  depend  on." 

It  heartened  Winn  wonderfully  to  hear  Joe  talk  in 
this  strain,  and  he  not  only  began  to  believe  that 
Petro  would  be  set  free  after  a  certain  time,  but  had 
strong  hopes  the  treasure  would  one  day  be  delivered 
to  its  rightful  owners. 


184    THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Joe  was  in  no  great  hurry  to  return  to  the 
schooner. 

In  order  to  make  it  appear  that  he  was  really- 
searching  the  island  for  the  hiding-place  of  the  gold, 
it  was  necessary  he  should  be  absent  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  night,  and  he  made  a  generous  meal  from 
Winn's  stores,  saying  as  he  did  so : 

"You  needn't  fear  of  goin'  on  short  allowance, 
even  if  I  do  make  quite  a  hole  in  the  larder,  for  it 
stands  to  reason  there'll  be  plenty  chance  for  me  to 
bring  things  ashore  'twixt  now  an'  the  time  we  leave 
this  bloomin'  port." 

"I'm  not  worried  'bout  that,  Joe ;  it  does  me  good 
to  see  you  eat." 

"Then  you'll  be  in  mighty  fine  shape  before  I 
leave,  for  we  in  the  forecastle  don't  get  such  grub  as 
this  very  often.  You  remember,  lad,  I  told  you  it 
was  bad  luck  to  set  out  on  a  treasure-huntin' 
cruise?" 

"There  wouldn't  have  been  anything  very  hard  in 
this  one  if  the  captain  and  mate  had  been  willing  to 
act  honestly." 

"It  don't  make  any  difference  how  it  comes  about, 
my  boy,  trouble  is  sure  to  follow.  I  had  a  ship- 
mate once  what  dropped  into  a  good  deal  such  a 
snarl  as  we're  in,  an'  he  says  when  bad  luck  begins 
it's  amazin'  how  long  it'll  hold  out." 


CAPTURED.  185 

"Why,  accordin'  to  what  you  said  a  few  minutes 
ago,  things  will  be  all  right  after  a  while.'' 

"Yes,  lad,  after  a  time;  but  'twixt  now  and  then 
we're  in  for  a  deal  of  trouble,  or  I'm  a  Dutchman, 
which  I  ain't.  But  don't  get  all  down  at  the  heel 
about  that,  'cause  what's  comin'  can't  be  helped,  an' 
we'll  take  our  medicine  like  men." 

Then  Joe  told  of  this  shipmate  or  that  who  pro- 
fessed to  have  had  similar  experiences,  until  Winn 
grew  despondent  once  more,  and  the  sailor  was 
forced  to  cease  his  doleful  yarns  in  order  to  soothe 
the  boy. 

When  Joe  believed  it  was  a  couple  of  hours  past 
midnight,  he  announced  his  intention  of  returning  to 
the  schooner,  and  Winn  insisted  on  accompanying 
him  as  far  as  the  shore. 

"I  could  find  my  way  back  in  the  darkness  without 
any  trouble,  but  there  won't  be  any  need  of  doin'  so. 
I'll  hang  'round  the  cove  till  I  see  how  many  boats 
are  comin'  ashore,  an'  then  there'll  be  time  enough  to 
hide.*' 

"As  you  choose,  lad,  as  you  choose.  It'll  serve  at 
least  to  pass  away  the  time,  and  that's  all  you've  got 
to  do  just  at  present,  except,  of  course,  it  is  to  keep 
up  your  courage.  Don't  get  down-hearted,  for 
things  will  work  out  our  way  in  good  season,  an'  I'll 
see  to  it  that  Petro  Garcia  isn't  handled  too  roughly. 


186    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

You  can  count  on  hearin'  of  all  that's  done  aboard 
the  schooner,  for  now  that  I  know  where  your  quar- 
ters are  it'll  be  an  easy  matter  to  see  you  a  few  min- 
utes at  a  time,  even  when  all  hands  of  us  come 
ashore." 

'If  it  should  happen,  Joe,  that  the  'Flying  Scud' 
leaves  this  island  before  a  great  while,  don't  forget 
that  you  have  promised  to  join  us  here." 

'Trust  me  for  that,  lad.  I'm  turnin'  the  thing 
over  in  my  mind,  an'  it  strikes  me  I  might  make  such 
a  plan  pay  better  than  sailorin'  at  thirty  dollars  a 
month.  Howsomever,  that's  quite  a  ways  in  the 
future.  Here's  the  dory,  an'  you'd  better  not  come 
out  on  the  sand." 

Winn  halted  just  within  the  foliage,  and  with  a 
good-night  as  cheery  as  if  it  had  been  spoken  on  the 
sand  dunes  of  Fairhaven  near  about  Manuel  Tel- 
ceda's  old  shanty,  the  sailor  pushed  off  in  the  dory, 
the  boy  listening  to  the  measured  cadence  of  the  oar- 
strokes  until  they  finally  died  away  in  the  distance. 

Once  more  he  was  alone  upon  the  island  while  his 
enemies  were  near  at  hand. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  NEW  ARRIVAL. 

During  the  remaining  hours  of  the  night  Winn 
lounged  within  the  hne  of  foHage,  sleeping  for  a  few 
moments  at  a  time  now  and  then,  or  watching  the 
dark  smudge  in  the  distance  which  betokened  the 
whereabouts  of  the  schooner. 

With  the  first  light  of  dawn,  however,  he  betook 
himself  to  the  tree  which  had  previously  served  as 
hiding-place,  intending  to  descend  and  take  refuge 
in  the  cavern  as  soon  as  he  saw  a  boat  put  out  from 
the  "Flying  Scud." 

Reassured  by  Joe  Savage's  words  and  predictions 
regarding  Petro's  future,  Winn  was  not  as  deeply 
anxious  as  he  would  have  been  but  for  the  visit  of 
the  sailor,  and  on  his  face  was  an  expression  very 
nearly  akin  to  cheerfulness  as  he  waited  for  the 
gloom  of  night  to  give  way  before  the  coming  of  the 
sun. 

Slowly  at  first  the  new  light  thinned  the  shadows, 
and  then  with  one  bound,  as  it  were,  a  new  day  had 
been  born  in  the  tropics,  the  panorama  lying  fair 
and  smiling  before  the  boy's  eyes. 

A  low  cry  of  surprise  bordering  on  bewilderment 

187 


188    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

broke  from  Winn's  lips  as  he  gazed  eastward,  rubbed 
his  eyes  and  gazed  again  as  if  doubting  the  evidence 
of  his  own  senses. 

The  'Tlying  Scud"  still  lay  at  anchor  in  the  off- 
ing, but  hardly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away  from  her  a 
brig  of  five  hundred  tons  or  more  was  slowly  forging 
in  toward  the  island  under  the  influence  of  the  light 
morning  breeze. 

Did  this  second  vessel  form  some  portion  of  Bart 
Gerry's  scheme,  or  was  she  a  stranger  which  had  put 
in  by  chance  ? 

This  was  the  thought  which  flashed  through 
Winn's  mind,  although  he  was  too  deeply  excited  to 
put  it  in  so  many  words. 

Petro  had  been  on  the  island  a  year  and  a  half 
without  having  seen  a  sail  in  all  that  time,  yet  here 
were  two  visitors,  and  if  at  the  moment  Winn 
thought  of  the  future  it  was  with  less  anxiety  than 
before,  for  surely  Cocos  Island  seemed  to  be  situated 
in  a  portion  of  the  Indian  Ocean  frequently  visited. 

It  can  well  be  fancied  that  the  boy  almost  forgot 
how  necessary  it  was  he  should  observe  closely  all 
which  was  taking  place  on  and  about  the  'Tlying 
Scud,"  in  order  to  leave  his  perch  in  the  tree  and  take 
shelter  in  the  cavern  before  the  sailors  came  on 
shore,  otherwise  he  might  find  himself  prisoner  in 
an  exceedingly  uncomfortable  position. 


A   NEW   ARRIVAL.  189 

With  hardly  more  than  steerage-way  upon  her, 
the  brig  crept  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  land,  and  the 
number  of  men  on  the  'Tlying  Scud's"  deck  told 
that  this  new  arrival  had  caused  the  liveliest  curios- 
ity and  excitement. 

Winn  watched  every  movement  keenly  until  the 
anchor  was  let  go,  the  vessel  swung  lazily  around, 
and  a  boat  was  lowered. 

Then  he  slid  down  from  his  lofty  perch,  watched 
from  amid  the  foliage  until  he  saw  that  the  strangers 
were  pulling  landward,  evidently  not  intending  to 
communicate  with  those  on  board  the  ''Flying 
Scud,"  after  which  he  made  his  way  with  all  speed 
toward  the  cavern,  for  it  was  necessary  he  should 
remain  hidden  until  it  was  possible  to  ascer- 
tain whether  these  newcomers  were  friends  or 
foes. 

Why  the  brig  had  come  to  an  anchor  off  Cocos 
Island  was  a  question  which  troubled  him  exceed- 
ingly. 

From  all  he  had  learned  of  Petro  it  did  not  seem 
probable  any  one  would  visit  the  place  unless  bent  on 
business  connected  with  the  treasure,  and  his  mind 
was  in  a  whirl  as  he  tried  in  vain  to  solve  what  pre- 
-sented  itself  to  him  as  a  vexing  problem. 

Unless  willing  to  take  too  great  chances,  it  was 
necessary  he  remain  in  hiding  until  after  having  had 


190    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

an  interview  with  Joe,  and  wearily  the  hours  of  the 
morning  passed  until  he  fell  asleep. 

When  Winn  next  became  conscious  of  his  sur- 
roundings it  seemed  as  if  slumber  had  held  posses- 
sion of  his  eyelids  a  long  while,  and  he  crept  through 
the  narrow  passage  to  the  entrance  in  order  to  learn 
how  far  the  day  was  advanced. 

Already  the  shadows  were  lengthening  into  night, 
and  he  knew  that  he  must  have  slept  at  least  six 
hours. 

Now  hunger  began  to  assert  itself,  and  returning 
to  the  underground  chamber  with  an  armful  of  such 
fuel  as  could  be  gathered  nearabout  the  entrance,  he 
built  a  fire,  feeling  secure  against  interruption  be- 
cause it  seemed  most  likely  the  crews  of  both  vessels 
were  on  board  their  respective  craft. 

A  hearty  supper  leisurely  eaten,  and  then  he  took 
up  his  station  at  the  outer  end  of  the  tunnel,  con- 
fidently believing  Joe  Savage  would  find  some  means 
of  communicating  with  him  before  morning. 

In  this  he  was  not  mistaken,  and  the  news  brought 
by  the  sailor  both  delighted  and  alarmed  him. 

Shortly  after  night  had  come  Winn  heard  the 
familiar  strains  of  "Yankee  Doodle"  as  Joe  ad- 
vanced whistling,  and  it  was  not  necessary  the  boy 
should  go  out  to  meet  him,  for  the  sailor  had  noted 
carefully  the  landmarks. 


A   NEW   AREIVAL.  191 

*'Well,  lad,  I'm  here  again,  an'  without  much 
trouble,"  Joe  said  cheerily  as  his  hands  were  seized 
by  Winn  when  he  had  forced  a  passage  through  the 
thorny  bushes.  ''My  trick  of  pretendin'  to  search 
for  the  treasure  was  a  great  one,  and  smart  as  Bart 
Gerry  and  Captain  Jim  beH^e  themselves  to  be,  they 
haven't  the  ghost  pi  a  suspicion  that  I'm  playing  it 
on  'em." 

"HowisPetro?" 

"As  well  as  a  man  can  be  who  is  kept  close  pris- 
oner in  the  cabin,  where  it  is  so  boiling  hot  that  raw 
eggs  left  on  the  table  will  be  cooked  hard  in  less'n 
ten  minutes." 

"Have  you  had  a  chance  to  speak  with  him  yet?" 
"We  yarned  together  a  spell  this  morning  when 
the  brig  put  in." 

"What  vessel  is  that?  I  have  been  afraid  Bart 
Gerry  had  something  to  do  with  her." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,  lad,  and  she's  set  both  him  an' 
Captain  Jim  into  regular  fits.  They're  fidgetin' 
'round  like  a  couple  of  calves  what  have  lost  their 
mother,  and  I  reckon  either  of  'em  would  give  a 
good  stiff  price  to  know  just  why  the  brig  is  here." 
"I  saw  a  boat  put  ashore  from  her  this  morning." 
"Yes,  they  landed,  an'  at  first  we  allowed  it  was 
to  look  for  water ;  but  that  couldn't  have  been  true, 
seein's  how  they  had  no  casks  with  'em." 


192    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"How  long  did  they  stay  on  the  island  ?  I  didn't 
dare  watch  them  for  fear  of  being  seen." 

"Well,  you  bet  our  captain  an'  mate  kept  a  mighty 
sharp  lookout.  As  you  know,  they  come  ashore  a 
bit  after  sunrise,  an'  it  was  nigh  to  noon  before  we 
saw  'em  agin.  It  seems  like  as  they'd  picked  up 
somebody  belongin'  to  Manuel's  tribe,  who'd  told 
'em  of  this  'ere  treasure,  'cause  I  don't  allow  they'd 
stay  ashore  just  for  the  sake  of  a  lark." 

"Does  Petro  know  anything  about  it?" 

"He  claims  not  to,  an'  I  reckon  he's  tellin'  the 
truth,  'cause  he's  terribly  worked  up  about  it. 
Takin'  it  all  in  all,  every  blessed  soul  aboard  the 
♦Flying  Scud'  is  feelin'  mighty  uncomfortable  just 
now." 

"I  should  think  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  for 
Captain  Jim  to  find  out  about  the  brig  by  going  on 
board  to  make  a  visit." 

"Bless  your  soul,  lad,  he  tried  that  game  about 
noon,  an'  nothin'  come  of  it.  He  made  out  we'd  put 
in  here  to  refit,  owing  to  our  topmast  havin'  been 
sprung.  That  was  one  of  Bart  Gerry's  schemes,  an' 
we  set  about  sendin'  down  the  spar  right  soon  after 
breakfast,  so  the  next  time  you  see  the  'Flying  Scud' 
she'll  look  as  if  a  typhoon  had  struck  her.  Well, 
Captain  Jim  he  hemmed  and  hawed,  accordin'  to  his 
own  story,  talked  about  the  island,  said  he'd  never 


A   NEW   ARRIVAL.  193 

been  here  before,  an'  wanted  the  other  skipper  to 
post  him ;  but  never  a  word  did  he  get  as  to  why  the 
brig  put  in  here.  Takin'  it  all  in  all,  he  felt  a  good 
deal  worse  when  he  come  back  than  when  he  went, 
cause  why?  If  the  brig  was  here  for  water,  or  any- 
thing of  that  kind,  her  skipper  wouldn't  have  made 
any  bones  about  sayin'  so,  an'  it  shows  he  don't 
count  on  lettin'  anybody  else  know  his  business." 

"Was  anything  done  this  afternoon?" 

"No,  except  the  brig  has  got  all  her  boats  in  the 
water,  and  it's  the  opinion  of  Gerry  that  they'll  land 
here  to-morrow  morning  to  make  a  search  for  the 
Aymara  treasure.  I  wouldn't  wonder  if  the  mate 
was  right.  There's  a  queer  look  to  the  whole  busi- 
ness, anyhow." 

Winn  had  no  remark  to  make.  His  mind  was  so 
entirely  occupied  with  the  coming  of  the  brig  and 
her  possible  mission  that  he  could  think  of  little  else, 
until  Joe  said  suddenly : 

"I  told  you  Petro  and  I  was  alone  quite  a  spell 
this  morning." 

"How  did  that  happen?  I  shouldn't  suppose 
Gerry  would  have  allowed  it." 

"That  precious  mate  ain't  any  too  fond  of  workin'. 
Since  you've  died,  according  to  his  way  of  thinkin', 
somebody's  bound  to  look  after  the  cabins.  Cap- 
tain Jim  set  me  to  work  there  this  mornin',  an'  while 


194    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

he  an'  the  mate  watched  the  brig,  I  had  plenty  of 
time  to  yarn  with  Petro.  I  reckon  what  weVe  de- 
cided on  will  astonish  you,  lad." 

''What  is  it  ?"  Winn  asked  with  mild  curiosity,  his 
mind  so  full  of  these  newcomers  that  he  could  give 
little  thought  to  anything  else. 

**  If  it  so  be  we  can  make  the  plan  work,  you'll  see 
both  of  us  ashore  here  to-morrow  night." 

"I  thought  you  didn't  believe  it  was  safe  for  Petro 
to  try  to  make  his  escape,  because  the  crew  would  be 
sent  after  him  again,  and  he  would  be  worse  off,  hav- 
ing once  run  away." 

"That  was  my  idea  before  I  had  had  a  chance  to 
talk  with  him ;  but  now  I'm  looking  at  the  thing  dif- 
ferent. He  allows  that  if  I  can  get  hold  of  a  couple 
of  revolvers,  we'll  be  able  to  hold  our  own  in  this 
^ere  cave  so  long  as  the  'Flying  Scud'  can  lay  at  an- 
chor, an'  the  whole  thing  looks  straight  enough. 
You  see,  she's  bound  to  put  to  sea  for  a  spell  any- 
how, as  soon  as  the  wind  hauls  'round,  an'  that 
would  give  us  a  chance  to  keep  up  our  stock  of  pro- 
visions. He  says  there  are  plenty  of  crabs  an'  oys- 
ters, an'  with  what  I'd  bring,  it  seems  as  if  we'd  be 
well  fixed.  Of  course,  our  precious  officers  are 
bound  to  know  we're  here,  an'  the  chances  are  they'll 
find  this  place ;  but  two  men  could  hold  it  against  a 
hundred  when  you  come  to  think  of  it,  an'  Petro  has 


A  NEW  ARRIVAL.  195 

an  idea  in  his  head  that  he  must  come  ashore,  if  it  so 
be  I  can  get  him  off." 

"If  the  crews  of  both  vessels  are  searching  for  the 
treasure,  there  doesn't  seem  to  be  any  question  but 
that  they  will  find  it  after  a  spell." 

*Tetro  swears  they  can't,  an'  though  he  don't  tell 
me  where  it  is,  I've  got  my  suspicions  that  the  gold 
is  somewhere  around  this  'ere  place,  else  he  wouldn't 
be  in  sich  terrible  straits  to  get  here." 

"I  can't  see  how  you  are  going  to  get  him  out  of 
the  cabin  while  Captain  Jim  an'  Bart  are  on  watch." 

''It  may  be  I'm  takin'  a  bigger  contract  than  I  can 
carry  out ;  but  there's  a  plan  in  my  head  now  which 
stands  a  good  chance  of  goin'  straight,  an'  if  it  does 
we'll  be  here  before  midnight  to-morrow." 

It  was  only  natural  Winn  should  be  delighted  at 
the  prospect  of  having  company  in  his  voluntary  im- 
prisonment, yet  at  the  same  time  such  a  proposition 
as  Joe  had  made  seemed  in  the  highest  degree  dan- 
gerous, and  had  it  been  left  to  him  he  would  most 
likely  have  decided  against  it,  at  least  until  matters 
assumed  a  more  threatening  aspect  in  regard  to 
Petro. 

However,  his  opinion  had  not  been  asked,  nor  was 
it  likely  his  advice  would  be  welcome,  therefore  he 
contented  himself  by  inquiring  concerning  the  pro- 
posed method  of  escape. 


196    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Last  night  Bartlett  was  put  on  watch  at  the  com- 
panion-way, an'  Petro  allowed  full  swing  of  your 
cabin  an'  the  saloon,"  Joe  said  in  reply  to  this  ques- 
tion. "I'm  countin'  on  goin'  aboard  within  an  hour. 
I'll  report  to  our  officers  that  the  crew  of  the  brig 
have  begun  diggin'  just  beyond  where  we  were 
workin'.  That  will  settle  in  their  minds  that  the 
craft  put  in  here  on  account  of  the  treasure,  an'  I'm 
allowin'  one  or  both  of  'em  will  come  ashore  this 
very  night  to  see  for  themselves.  Now,  in  case  that 
happens,  I'll  offer  to  stand  watch  in  the  cabin,  an' 
then  all  will  go  smooth,  because  it's  only  a  question 
of  seein'  to  it  that  the  dory  is  alongside  under  the 
bull's-eye  in  your  room,  where  it  won't  be  a  hard  job 
to  lower  into  her  a  pretty  fair  supply  of  stores.  Be- 
fore the  treasure-hunters  get  back  I  should  contrive 
to  sneak  Petro  over  the  rail  without  the  crew's 
knowin'  of  it,  for  I'm  reckonin'  on  their  turnin'  in 
the  same  as  usual.  Of  course,  everything  depends 
on  Captain  Jim  an'  Gerry  doin'  as  I've  said.  If  it 
should  happen  they  didn't,  why  I'll  have  to  cook  up 
some  other  plan,  that's  all.  Petro  sends  word  that 
you're  to  go  through  this  'ere  tunnel  that  leads  out 
on  the  shore  an'  wait  there  for  us,  so's  to  help  bring 
ashore  what  stores  I  get  away  with." 

"But  about  the  weapons?" 

"I  bought  a  revolver  an'  two  hundred  cartridges 


A   NEW   AERIVAL.  197 

of  Bartlett  this  afternoon,  an'  if  I  can't  pick  up  an- 
other one,  I'll  take  the  liberty  of  lookin'  over  the  cap- 
tain's room  to  see  what  he's  got.  After  all  that's 
been  done  since  we  left  Fairhaven,  I  shouldn't  call  it 
stealin'  to  lug  away  anything  I  can  put  my  hands 
on." 

By  this  time  there  was  no  room  in  Winn's  mind 
for  thoughts  of  the  brig  or  the  doings  of  her  crew. 

Excited  by  the  details  of  the  proposed  venture,  he 
was  in  a  state  of  nervous  agitation  which  prevented 
him  from  remaining  in  one  position  many  moments 
at  a  time. 

Walking  back  and  forth  in  front  of  Joe,  he  ques- 
tioned him  again  and  again  as  to  the  plan,  until  the 
sailor  said  almost  impatiently : 

"I  reckon  we've  yarned  long  enough  about  it,  lad, 
an'  it's  time  for  me  to  be  goin'  on  board.  Don't  be 
disappointed  in  case  we  shouldn't  show  up  right  off, 
because  everything  must  go  our  way  before  we  make 
the  attempt;  but  some  fine  night  we'll  do  it,  an' 
you're  to  be  at  the  entrance  Petro  spoke  about,  from 
sunset  to  sunrise  till  you  see  us.  Here's  the  re- 
volver an'  ammunition  I  bought  from  Bartlett. 
There's  no  sense  in  luggin'  the  stuff  'round  any  lon- 
ger. Hide  it  somewhere  in  the  cave,  an'  take  pre- 
cious good  care  of  the  cartridges,  for  they  may  be 
needed  before  we  have  finished  with  Bart  Gerry." 


198    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Then,  without  a  single  word  by  way  of  adieu,  Joe 
hurriedly  took  his  departure. 

Winn,  who  was  eager  to  go  with  him  as  far  as  the 
shore  for  the  purpose  of  passing  the  time,  if  nothing 
more,  wrapped  the  weapon  and  ammunition  in  his 
jacket,  deposited  the  bundle  at  a  safe  distance  from 
the  fire,  and  hurried  out  into  the  thicket. 

The  sailor  had  made  good  use  of  his  legs,  for  by 
the  time  the  boy  gained  the  beach,  he  was  a  hundred 
yards  or  more  from  the  shore,  pulling  vigorously  to- 
ward the  schooner  to  unfold  his  alleged  discoveries 
concerning  the  movements  of  the  brig's  crew. 

Winn  watched  him  until  the  tiny  boat  was  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  gloom,  and  then  he  retraced  his 
steps,  so  agitated  concerning  the  proposed  escape  and 
desertion  as  to  be  hardly  conscious  of  what  he  did. 

Mechanically  he  followed  the  true  course  to  the 
tunnel,  and  before  entering  gathered  a  bundle  of 
such  wood  as  he  believed  would  serve  the  purpose  of 
a  torch,  and  then  went  into  the  cavern. 

It  was  an  extremely  difficult  task  to  coax  the  green 
wood  into  a  flame,  even  by  aid  of  embers  from  the 
camp-fire,  and  when  he  had  done  his  best  the  blaze 
was  so  fitful  that  it  served  rather  to  intensify  the 
darkness. 

As  nearly  as  he  could  judge  by  sense  of  touch,  this 
second  tunnel  was  similar  to  the  one  with  which  he 


A   NEW   ARKIVAL.  199 

was  already  familiar.  It  may  have  been  narrower, 
but  yet  it  was  sufficiently  high  to  admit  of  his  walk- 
ing erect,  and  the  floor  was  covered  with  white  sand 
like  that  which  formed  a  carpet  for  the  chamber. 

When  he  emerged  into  the  open  air,  however, 
everything  looked  strange. 

There  was  no  foliage  to  conceal  the  aperture,  but 
instead  a  mass  of  white  boulders  and  rocks  with 
needle-like  points  arose  between  him  and  the  sea, 
having  in  the  dim  light  the  appearance  of  tomb- 
stones. 

He  drew  back  with  a  shudder,  for  there  was  some- 
thing sinister  in  the  scene  which  troubled  him,  and 
not  until  after  he  had  remained  motionless  several 
moments  as  if  to  regain  courage,  did  he  dare  venture 
forth. 

It  was  not  a  simple  matter  to  gain  the  edge  of  the 
water,  even  though  the  distance  was  hardly  more 
than  a  hundred  feet. 

Half  a  dozen  times  did  he  make  an  attempt,  and 
then  it  was  only  by  a  long  detour  to  the  southward 
that  he  was  able  to  find  a  practicable  passage. 

To  clamber  over  the  monument-like  rocks  would 
have  been  almost  impossible,  and  when  finally  he 
stood  at  the  very  edge  of  the  sea  he  realized  how 
thoroughly  well  this  entrance  to  the  cavern  was 
guarded  by  Nature. 


200    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

With  a  single  man  in  either  tunnel,  a  hundred 
could  be  held  at  bay,  and  now  Winn  understood  that 
Petro  had  good  cause  to  believe  he  would  be  safe  in 
the  subterranean  dwelling,  even  though  the  most 
persistent  efforts  should  be  made  by  the  crew  of  the 
''Flying  Scud"  to  recapture  him. 


"/{j*/. 


^X*^. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BESIEGED. 

Winn's  vigil  was  a  weary  one,  and  many  times 
before  it  came  to  an  end  he  believed  Joe  had  failed 
in  his  purpose. 

As  he  stood  at  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  looking 
out  over  the  waters,  he  fancied  he  could  picture  in 
his  mind  the  scene  which  was  being  enacted  on  board 
the  "Flying  Scud." 

He  saw  before  him  Petro  and  Joe  Savage,  either 
wounded  unto  death,  or  tied  hand  and  foot  as  a  pun- 
ishment for  the  attempt  to  escape  and  desert,  and  by 
this  lively  play  of  imagination  he  gave  himself  a 
most  uncomfortable  night. 

Agitated  and  expectant  as  he  was,  every  moment 
spent  in  waiting  seemed  fully  ten,  and  thus  before 
midnight  had  come  he  was  looking  toward  the  east, 
believing  the  harbinger  of  the  new  day  was  near  at 
hand. 
/  The  two  vessels  which  lay  at  anchor  off  Cocos 
Island  appeared  in  the  moonless  night  to  be  but  faint 
smudges  of  black  against  the  grayish  sky,  and  save 
for  the  fact  that  he  knew  their  location,  Winn  would 

201 


203    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

have  failed  to  distinguish  them  as  objects  on  the 
water. 

More  than  once  his  eyes,  weary  with  watching, 
caused  him  to  fancy  he  saw  a  tiny  Hne  of  black  mov- 
ing on  the  swell,  and  each  time  he  discovered  his 
mistake  a  certain  portion  of  hope  fled,  until  despair 
had  well-nigh  seized  upon  him. 

Owing  to  his  being  stationed  at  this  point  on  the 
shore,  it  was  impossible  to  see  the  cove,  and  there- 
fore he  remained  wholly  in  ignorance  as  to  whether 
the  captain  or  mate,  or  both,  had  been  tempted  by 
the  report  which  Joe  Savage  undoubtedly  made,  to 
come  on  shore. 

At  the  moment  when  it  seemed  useless  to  continue 
the  vigil,  a  faint  splashing  of  water  caused  hope  to 
revive  once  more  in  his  breast,  and  the  noise  sounded 
more  and  more  distinct  until  he  could  finally  see  a 
moving  object. 

This  time  it  was  not  fancy,  but  reality,  and  it 
seemed  to  Winn  as  if  his  heart  absolutely  stood  still 
while  he  peered  out  over  the  surf  at  that  which  grad- 
ually assumed  definite  shape  until  it  had  finally  re- 
solved itself  into  a  boat  manned  by  two  men. 

Joe's  plan  had  been  successful ! 

Petro  was  free  once  more,  and  Winn  would  no 
longer  be  the  sole  occupant  of  the  island  during  the 
lonely  hours  of  night. 


BESIEGED.  203 

It  was  as  if  fully  half  his  troubles  were  suddenly 
rolled  away,  and  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
could  the  boy  prevent  himself  from  crying  aloud  in 
his  joy. 

As  soon  as  might  be  old  Manuel's  faithful  friend 
stepped  ashore  from  the  dory,  and  Winn  ran  knee- 
deep  into  the  surf  to  greet  him. 

"This  is  no  time  for  hand-shakin',  lad,"  Joe  Sav- 
age said  when  Winn  would  thus  have  welcomed  him. 
*'We're  not  so  far  out  of  the  woods  that  we  can 
afford  to  crow  yet  awhile.  I  count  on  tryin'  to  hold 
possession  of  this  'ere  boat,  so  bear  a  hand  while  we 
take  her  into  the  bushes." 

"But  if  she  is  found  the  crew  of  the  Tlying  Scud' 
will  know  you  are  on  the  island,"  Winn  said,  as  if  in 
alarm,  and  Joe  replied  with  a  low  laugh : 

"Bless  you,  lad,  where  do  you  reckon  they'll  think 
I  am,  if  not  on  the  island,  after  it's  found  I've  given 
them  the  slip?  They  won't  be  sich  bloomin'  idjuts 
as  to  think  Petro  an'  me  put  to  sea  in  a  dory  for  a 
voyage  'round  the  Horn." 

Winn  now  understood  that  they  were  taking  no 
chances  in  thus  attempting  to  hold  possession  of  the 
boat,  and  during  half  an  hour  or  more  he  did  his  full 
share  in  the  laborious  work  necessary  to  secrete  the 
small  craft. 

If  those  whom  Captain  Jim  should  send  in  search 


204    THE  TKEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

came  upon  the  dory  at  the  very  point  where  the  men 
had  landed  it  might  give  them  a  clue  as  to  the  en- 
trance of  the  tunnel,  therefore  Joe  proposed  that  she 
be  carried  along  the  shore  westward  for  half  a  mile 
or  more  before  he  was  willing  to  trust  her  to  the 
keeping  of  the  thicket. 

During  all  this  time  hardly  a  word  was  spoken  by 
any  of  the  three,  save  when  it  became  necessary  to 
give  some  command,  and  in  silence  they  dragged  the 
little  craft  as  far  inland  as  Joe  thought  best,  after 
which  Petro  led  his  companions  by  a  roundabout 
way  to  the  seaward  tunnel. 

Once  in  the  circular  cavern,  Winn  set  about  build- 
ing a  fire,  but  Joe  stopped  him  by  saying : 

''We're  not  out  of  the  woods  yet,  lad.  Both  Cap- 
tain Jim  an'  Bart  Gerry  are  most  likely  on  the  island 
this  very  minute,  so  it  stands  us  in  hand  to  be  mighty 
careful.  I  reckon  there's  no  danger  our  talk  will  be 
overheard ;  but  whatever  yarn-spinnin'  goes  on  must 
be  done  in  the  darkness." 

Petro  and  the  sailor  had  brought  from  the 
schooner  such  stores  of  provisions  that  all  three  were 
heavily  laden  when  the  cargo  was  taken  from  the 
dory,  and  it  seemed  to  Winn  as  if  they  had  food  suf- 
ficient to  keep  the  larder  well  supplied  for  at  least  six 
months,  although  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  was  not 
more  than  one-sixth  as  much  as  the  boy  fancied. 


BESIEGED.  205 

"Did  you  get  another  revolver?"  he  asked, 
eagerly. 

''Yes,  an'  as  many  cartridges  as  will  serve  us  if  we 
are  besieged  a  couple  of  months." 

"But  Petro,  how  did  you  get  him  away?" 

"It  was  done  as  your  friend  here  mapped  out," 
Garcia  replied.  "The  story  which  he  told  the  offi- 
cers was  sufficient  to  send  them  ashore  in  great  haste, 
and  within  half  an  hour  after  they  pushed  off  the 
dory  was  laden  and  we  on  board  of  her." 

"Wasn't  anybody  on  watch?"  Winn  asked  in  sur- 
prise. 

"One  man  who  was  forward  asleep  and  your 
friend,  Joe,  were  left  in  charge  of  the  schooner, 
therefore  my  escape  was  not  difficult." 

"It  went  off  as  smooth  as  if  the  captain  an'  mate 
were  tryin'  to  give  us  the  show  we  wanted,"  Joe 
added  with  a  chuckle.  "I  did  think  I  was  good  for 
nothin'  but  to  pull  an'  haul  on  some  bloomin'  rope  all 
the  rest  of  my  life ;  but  the  way  this  little  affair  has 
been  worked  out  I'm  beginnin'  to  believe  I  could 
hold  up  my  end  with  Bart  Gerry  in  the  way  of  devil- 
try. Petro  has  escaped,  I've  deserted  an'  you're 
supposed  to  be  dead.  The  last  part  of  it  won't 
trouble  Bart  any,  but  he'll  be  precious  hot  under  the 
collar  when  he  knows  what  happened  while  he  was 
on  a  tom-fool's  errand.     If  it  should  so  chance  that 


206    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

he  gets  me  in  his  clutches  agin  I'll  be  likely  to  suffer ; 
but  we  ain't  alio  win'  that'll  come  about,  eh,  Petro  ?'' 

"We  can  hold  our  own  here,  even  though  twice 
the  number  of  sailors  which  the  'Flying  Scud'  car- 
ries should  attempt  to  capture  us,"  Garcia  replied, 
confidently.  "The  provisions  we  brought  from  the 
schooner,  together  with  such  as  I  have  stored  away, 
and  an  ample  supply  of  water  will  enable  us  to  stand 
a  long  siege  without  suffering,  while  a  man  in  either 
passage  can  hold  at  bay  a  hundred  without  exposing 
himself  to  danger." 

"Yes,  it  looks  mighty  fine  when  you  figger  it  out ; 
but  I'm  one  as  always  counts  that  the  weather  may 
change,  an'  it  ain't  dead  certain  we  shan't  find  our 
reckonin'  wrong.  I'm  not  tryin'  to  throw  cold 
water — only  contrivin'  against  the  bad  luck  that  will 
come  if  we  get  to  feelin'  cocksure  everything  is  goin' 
our  way." 

Then  Joe  fell  to  speculating  as  to  the  reason  of  the 
brig's  visit,  and  asked  Petro  if  it  was  possible  any 
other  than  he  or  Manuel  could  have  given  informa- 
tion regarding  the  treasure. 

"All  of  our  people  know  it  was  brought  to  Cocos 
Island,  and  each  of  those  who  aided  in  the  work 
would  have  been  capable  of  making  such  a  chart  as 
that  drawn  up  by  Manuel  himself,"  Petro  replied, 
gravely.     "It  is  reasonable  to  believe  the  brig  was 


BESIEGED.  207 

brought  here  by  those  who  hoped  to  possess  them- 
selves of  the  wealth,  for  had  they  come  after  water, 
or  to  refit,  they  would  have  set  about  such  work  im- 
mediately. It  would  not  be  strange  if  some  of  my 
race  had  incautiously  told  to  strangers  what  we  did 
in  1 82 1,  and  having  learned,  perhaps  ever  so  little,  of 
what  should  have  been  kept  a  secret,  these  men  have 
fitted  out  an  expedition." 

"With  so  many  hunting,  it  seems  almost  certain 
the  new  hiding-place  will  be  discovered,"  Winn  said, 
thoughtfully.  "If  you  left  any  signs  of  the 
work — —     Of  course  you  buried  it  again?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  why  shouldn't  the  place  be  found?" 

"That  is  impossible  while  we  remain  here." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say " 

"I  have  buried  the  treasure  in  this  cavern.  The 
white  sand  of  the  floor  could  easily  be  replaced  after 
an  excavation  had  been  made.  To  seek  it,  one  has 
but  to  begin  beneath  the  spot  on  which  I  have  kept  a 
fire  burning.  You  see,  comrades,  I  give  to  you  this 
last  secret  of  the  Aymara  treasure,  believing  sin- 
cerely in  your  honesty,  and  having  faith  that  should 
my  days  be  cut  short  as  were  Manuel  Telceda's,  you 
will  take  the  wealth  to  our  people,  withholding  for 
yourselves  so  much  as  will  reward  you  amply  for 
doing  the  service." 


208    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

During  several  moments  it  seemed  impossible  for 
either  Joe  or  Winn  to  speak. 

They  had  supposed,  and  quite  naturally,  that 
Petro  simply  changed  the  location  of  the  treasure, 
burying  it  in  much  the  same  manner  as  it  had  been 
buried  before. 

Now,  however,  they  understood  why  he  was  so 
eager  to  make  a  stand  in  the  cavern,  and  also  real- 
ized that  should  enemies  succeed  in  making  their 
way  into  that  place,  they  would  hardly  expect  to  find 
that  for  which  they  sought  in  what  seemed  like  solid 
rock. 

"It's  a  precious  good  idea,  our  comin'  ashore  as 
we  did,"  Joe  finally  said.  "If  I'd  known  all  this  be- 
fore, I  shouldn't  have  advised  you  to  stay  on  the 
Tlying  Scud'  even  as  long  as  you  did,  although  I 
ain't  anyways  certain  how  you  could  have  gotten 
away  from  her  sooner." 

"All  is  as  it  should  be,"  Petro  said,  contentedly. 
"We  have  come  in  good  time ;  we  are  well  supplied 
with  food,  and  have  weapons  and  ammunition  suffi- 
cient to  hold  our  own.     It  is  as  it  should  be." 

Winn  could  not  content  himself  with  congratula- 
tions as  to  the  present,  but  persisted  in  speaking  of 
the  future,  of  what  might  be  done  by  the  men  on 
board  the  "Flying  Scud,"  so  far  as  apprehending 
their  late  prisoner  and  the  deserter,  or  regarding  the 


BESIEGED.  209 

possible  chance  that  the  commanders  of  both  vessels 
would  join  forces  in  an  attempt  to  come  upon  the 
store  of  gold  and  silver. 

This  last  possibility  Joe  would  not  entertain  for  a 
moment. 

"Since  Bart  Gerry  knew  how  much  was  hidden 
here  he  has  been  the  same  as  money-crazy,  an' 
wouldn't  agree  to  give  up  a  single  dollar,  accordin' 
to  my  way  of  thinkin'.  There's  more  chance  of  a 
fight  between  them  than  there  is  that  they'll  go  into 
partnerships.  Now  we'd  be  fools  to  say  the  mate 
will  simmer  right  down  an'  not  try  to  do  anything 
toward  gettin'  us  into  his  clutches  agin.  Of  course 
that's  bound  to  come,  an'  it  stands  us  in  hand  to  be 
ready.  Petro  is  the  captain  now,  an'  if  he  gives  us 
an  idee  of  how  he  counts  on  holdin'  this  place,  we'll 
be  better  fitted  for  the  work  in  case  Bart  jumps  on 
us  sudden-like." 

'T  do  not  see  that  there  is  any  need  to  form  a  plan. 
I'll  take  up  my  station  in  the  passage  by  which  we 
entered,  for  it  is  there  the  greatest  danger  threatens. 
Joe  will  stand  watch  at  the  other  entrance  and  the 
boy  shall  move  to  and  fro  between  us  to  bring  food, 
water  or  whatever  may  be  needed.  In  addition  to 
this,  he  shall  do  his  share  of  the  work  as  sentinel,  by 
taking  our  places  when  it  becomes  necessary  for  us 
to  sleep." 


210    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'That  sounds  all  well  enough,  an'  I  reckon  it  is. 
Leastways  I'm  satisfied  with  it,  an'  now  seein's  we're 
like  to  be  pretty  busy  to-morrow  it  wouldn't  be  a  bad 
plan  for  you  an'  me  to  turn  in,  Petro.  Winn  hasn't 
been  doin'  so  much  work  but  that  he  can  look  out  for 
things  a  spell." 

"I  couldn't  sleep  if  I  tried,  just  now,"  Winn  said, 
decidedly,  and  instantly  the  two  men  threw  them- 
selves at  full  length  upon  the  sand  as  if  accustomed 
to  summoning  slumber  at  any  instant. 

Determined  to  do  his  full  share  of  the  labor,  and 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  no  opportunity  for  cen- 
sure, the  boy  set  about  guarding  the  cavern  by  going 
through  the  passage  which  led  to  the  thicket  of 
thorns,  and  there  pacing  to  and  fro,  listening  intently 
meanwhile  for  any  sound  which  should  betoken  the 
coming  of  enemies. 

As  the  day  began  to  dawn  he  crept  through  the 
foliage  until  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  cove,  which 
afforded  the  only  landing-place  on  the  island,  and 
saw  two  boats,  manned,  as  he  judged,  by  the  crew, 
put  off  from  the  schooner,  heading  directly  toward 
where  he  was  standing. 

Now^  had  come  the  time  when  his  comrades  should 
be  awakened,  and  Winn  ran  back  swiftly. 

"The  crew  of  the  'Flying  Scud'  are  coming!"  he 
cried  as  he  entered  the  cavern,  and  both  men  arose, 


BESIEGED.  211 

although    with    no    very    great    show    of    excite- 
ment, 

''Have  they  landed  yet?"  Joe  asked  in  a  matter- 
of-fact  tone. 
•  ''No;  they've  just  put  off  from  the  schooner." 

"Then  we've  got  plenty  of  time,  for  it  don't  stand 
to  reason  they  are  goin'  to  find  this  'ere  cave  without 
some  search,  an'  we'd  better  get  breakfast,  eh, 
Petro?" 

For  reply  the  Indian  began  building  a  fire,  and 
never  before  had  embers  so  costly  a  foundation. 

"What  about  the  smoke?"  Winn  asked.  ".We 
might  as  well  tell  them  where  we  are  as  to  let  it  be 
seen.'* 

"There  is  none  left  by  the  time  it  reaches  the  outer 
end,"  Petro  replied,  quietly.  "I  have  spent  much 
time  making  certain  of  that  fact.  We  need  not  fear, 
save  in  the  night  when  the  fire-light  is  reflected  by 
the  walls  of  the  passage,  and  one  standing  at  the 
very  entrance  might  possibly  perceive  a  glint  of  it, 
as  I  myself  have  done.  Therefore  we  will  prepare 
our  meals  properly.'* 

Not  until  breakfast,  and  a  palatable  one  it  was, 
had  been  eaten  did  Petro  assume  authority  as  com- 
mander, and  then  he  said  quietly  to  his  compan- 
ions: 

"It  is  as  well  that  we  take  up  our  stations  now.    It 


212    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

would  fill  us  with  shame  if,  while  we  loitered  here, 
the  men  made  their  way  through  the  passage." 

"There'd  be  somethin'  worse  than  shame  I'm 
afraid,"  Joe  said,  with  a  laugh,  and,  displaying  his 
revolver,  he  went  to  the  post  already  assigned  him. 

Petro  disappeared  in  the  opposite  passage,  and 
Winn  was  left  to  his  own  devices. 

For  a  time  he  occupied  himself  by  visiting  the  sen- 
tinels in  turn,  with  the  idea  that  they  might  require 
his  services,  but  when  two  hours  or  more  had  been 
spent  in  this  manner  and  he  was  not  called  upon  for 
either  food  or  water,  he  continued  his  duties  in  a 
more  leisurely  manner.  And  it  was  well  he  did  so, 
for  the  day  passed  without  an  alarm. 

When  night  came  Petro,  much  against  Joe  Sav- 
age's wishes,  left  the  cavern  on  a  reconnaissance,  and 
two  hours  later  he  returned  with  the  information 
that  the  sailors  probably  went  on  board  their  vessel 
at  nightfall. 

He  had  neither  seen  nor  heard  anything  to  be- 
token the  presence  of  enemies,  and  was  so  positive 
the  search  would  be  abandoned  during  the  hours  of 
darkness  that  he  advised  his  companions  to  spend 
the  night  in  slumber. 

Joe  was  the  first  to  awaken  next  morning,  and 
Winn  opened  his  eyes  only  when  the  sailor  had  come 
back  from  spying  out  the  enemy. 


BESIEGED.  213 

"Bart  Gerry  hasn't  given  up  the  battle  yet  a 
while,"  he  said  to  Petro  as  he  re-kindled  the  fire. 
*'Both  boats  are  puttin'  off  once  more,  an'  one  is 
comin'  from  the  brig.  If  I  didn't  know  that  prec- 
ious mate  so  well,  I'd  say  he'd  gone  into  partnership 
with  the  other  craft;  but  it  don't  seem  possible." 

The  forenoon  was  spent  much  as  had  been  the 
previous  day,  and  Winn  was  beginning  to  feel  confi- 
dent? they  were  secure  in  their  hiding-place,  when 
suddenly  a  loud  cry  as  of  triumph  rang  through  the 
landward  passage. 

The  boy  was  in  the  circular  chamber  when  startled 
by  this  token  that  their  refuge  had  at  last  been  dis- 
covered, and  started  at  full  speed  to  station  himself 
by  Petro's  side;  but  before  the  distance  had  been 
traversed  a  pistol-shot  rang  out,  sounding  in  that 
confined  place  like  the  discharge  of  a  cannon. 

Immediately  following  it  came  a  cry  of  pain,  and 
a  few  seconds  later  Winn  heard  Petro  shout: 

"I  shall  defend  myself  to  the  last,  as  is  my  right, 
and  he  who  attempts  to  enter  takes  his  life  in  his 
hands." 

By  the  time  Winn  was  where  he  could  see  the 
sentinel  who  had  thus  made  proclamation  of  war,  all 
was  still,  and  save  for  the  fact  that  the  odor  of  gun- 
powder hung  heavy  in  the  air,  he  would  almost  have 
doubted  whether  he  really  heard  anything. 


214    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Did  you  see  any  one  when  you  fired?"  he  asked 
breathlessly. 

"1  shouldn't  have  discharged  the  revolver  unless 
there  had  been  a  target  before  me.  One  of  your 
men  came  by  accident,  I  think,  upon  the  entrance, 
and  ventured  in.  I  believed  it  wisest  to  do  some 
execution  rather  than  hold  a  parley,  for  he  who 
strikes  first  strikes  best,  and  they  understand  now 
that  I  will  defend  myself  to  the  death,  whereas  had 
I  simply  said  so,  the  word  might  have  been  doubted.'* 

"Did  you  hit  him?" 

"I  could  have  killed  the  man,  but  preferred  to 
inflict  a  wound.  It  will  be  many  weeks  before  he 
uses  his  left  arm  again." 

"I  don't  suppose  it  could  have  been  Gerry?" 

"Neither  him  nor  the  captain.  You  had  better 
go  and  tell  Joe  Savage  what  you  have  just  learned ; 
he  will  be  uneasy,  and  we  cannot  afford  to  have  him 
leave  his  post  just  now." 

Winn  acted  upon  this  suggestion,  and  when  the 
sailor  heard  the  story  he  said  emphatically : 

"I  reckon  that  'ere  Petro  is  goin'  to  turn  out  a 
first-class  kind  of  a  fellow,  even  if  he  does  come 
from  a  no-account  tribe  in  a  no-account  country. 
Our  men  will  think  twice  before  they  give  him  a 
chance  to  shoot  again,  especially  if  him  as  has  been 
wounded  tells  the  truth  'bout  how  we're  situated. 


BESIEGED.  215 

The  battle  is  opened  now,  an'  we've  got  to  fight  it 
out,  lad,  for  there's  no  backin'  down  after  blood  is 
shed." 

"Do  you  believe  men  who  have  signed  articles  as 
sailors  are  goin'  to  stand  up  an'  be  shot  at?" 

*'Not  willingly,  lad;  but  Gerry  will  egg  'em  on, 
you  may  be  sure,  an'  by  threats  or  promises  of  more 
money,  I  reckon  he  can  get  some  of  them  to  take  a 
hand  in  the  scrimmage.  I  wish  we  knew  more 
about  the  crew  of  that  'ere  brig." 

Another  pistol-shot  was  heard,  and  Winn  needed 
no  bidding  to  send  him  back  again  to  Petro's  side. 

As  before,  nothing  could  be  seen. 

The  smoke  of  burning  powder  filled  the  passage 
as  with  a  cloud,  obscuring  even  a  view  of  the  foliage 
just  beyond,  and  Petro  gave  the  desired  information 
before  the  boy  could  ask  for  it. 

''Another  man,  who  evidently  needed  more  assur- 
ance than  the  blood  of  his  comrade  could  afford, 
showed  himself.  Whether  my  bullet  struck  him  I 
am  unable  to  say,  because  of  the  smoke.  Tell  Joe 
Savage  he  need  have  no  fear  regarding  me  unless  I 
should  call  him  by  name.  Then  bring  me  some 
water;  the  smoke  parches  my  throat." 

Winn  obeyed  these  instructions  quickly,  and  when 
the  message  was  repeated,  Joe  said  grimly : 

"Although  I  don't  call    myself    any    soldier,  I 


216    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

reckon  I'm  man  enougn  not  to  leave  my  post  until 
I*m  certain  it's  necessary.  You  can  tell  Petro  that 
I'll  stay  right  here  till  he  yells,  an'  if  that  time  does 
come,  my  lad,  reckonin'  from  what  I've  already  seen 
of  the  man,  we  shall  be  in  a  mighty  tight  box." 

The  remainder  of  the  day  passed  without  further 
alarm,  but  the  occupants  of  the  cavern  knew  full 
well  that  they  were  besieged,  and  there  was  no  longer 
any  reason  to  believe  Bart  Gerry  would  call  off  his 
forces  during  the  night. 

Unquestionably  some  of  the  "Flying  Scud's" 
crew  would  remain  where  they  could  watch  the  en- 
trance of  the  tunnel,  and  every  precaution  was  taken 
by  those  who  were  thus  forced  to  defend  them- 
selves. 

At  sunset,  according  to  Petro's  command,  Winn 
relieved  Joe,  that  the  latter  might  gain  some  sleep, 
and  at  midnight  the  sailor  was  aroused  to  serve  in 
Garcia's  stead. 

Thus  it  was  each  of  the  men  slept  five  hours,  and 
Winn  remained  on  duty  all  night. 

Petro,  after  preparing  breakfast  and  serving  Joe, 
insisted  that  the  boy  should  take  his  turn  at  resting, 
and  Winn's  eyes  were  so  heavy  that,  despite  the 
dangers  which  surrounded  him,  he  was  soon  lost  in 
the  blissful  unconsciousness  of  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A    PARLEY. 

It  was  nearly  noon  when  Winn  awoke  and 
visited  first  one  sentinel  and  then  the  other  to  learn 
if  there  had  been  any  change  in  the  condition  of 
affairs. 

Petro  reported  that  the  enemy  remained  so  near 
the  entrance  that  at  times  he  could  hear  the  hum  of 
conversation;  but  after  the  lessons  already  received 
none  were  so  reckless  as  to  expose  themselves  as  a 
target. 

Joe,  who  was  seated  on  the  sand  with  his  back 
against  the  wall  of  the  passage,  smoking  contentedly, 
announced  it  as  his  belief  that  the  underground 
dwelling  would  not  be  discovered  by  an  approach 
from  the  shore. 

''A  fleet  of  boats  might  be  pulled  on  a  line  with 
the  coast,  an'  their  crews  wouldn't  see  the  entrance 
to  this  'ere  passage  because  of  the  rocks  that  mask 
it  in.  I'll  go  bail  none  of  the  'Flying  Scud's'  men 
will  care  to  take  an  excursion  this  way  on  foot, 
especially  when  there  isn't  any  particular  reason  why 
they  should  do  so.     I  reckon  Bart  Gerry  is  restin' 

217 


218    THE  TREASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

easy  in  the  idea  that  there's  only  one  hole  to  this 
cave,  an'  allows  he's  keepin'  us  hived  in.  If  it  so  be 
we  wanted  to  give  'em  the  slip,  it  could  be  done  in 
the  night,  an'  without  a  great  bit  of  bother." 

"We'd  be  obliged  to  leave  the  treasure  behind  if 
we  should  run  away." 

"That's  true,  lad,  but  many  a  man  has  been  willin' 
to  turn  his  back  on  gold  when  his  life  was  in  dan- 
ger, though  I  ain't  sayin'  it  in  the  nature  of  croakin', 
'cause  I  allow  we're  in  pretty  good  shape  here.  The 
wind  must  haul  into  the  eastward  soon,  an'  then  it's 
a  case  of  gettin'  the  'Flying  Scud'  under  way." 

Winn  prepared  dinner  and  carried  a  generous 
supply  to  each  of  the  sentinels,  after  which  he  moved 
leisurely  back  and  forth  between  the  two  posts, 
eager  to  do  even  more  than  his  full  share  of  guard- 
duty;  but  to  this  Petro  would  not  listen.   . 

"It  is  enough  if  you  relieve  us  now  and  then,  for 
that  labor,  in  addition  to  cooking  the  food,  will 
make  up  your  full  share." 

With  this  Winn  was  not  content,  and  began  to 
argue  the  question,  urging  that  he  was  as  well  able  to 
bear  fatigue  as  any  of  the  party,  until  a  hail  from 
without  brought  the  conversation  to  a  very  sudden 
close. 

"Hello  in  there!"  shouted  a  voice  which  Winn 
recognized  as  Bart  Gerry's. 


A   PAKLEY.  219 

''Hello  in  there !"  he  repeated  after  waiting  a  few 
seconds  in  vain  for  a  reply,  and  Petro  asked  in  a 
tone  of  irritation,  as  if  it  vexed  him  to  so  much  as 
reply  to  such  a  man.as  the  mate  had  shown  himself 
to  be  : 

''What  do  you  wish?" 

"A  five-minute  talk  with  you." 

"To  what  end?" 

"That  can  soon  be  told  after  you  agree  to  give 
me  the  chance." 

"You  seem  to  be  taking  it,  whether  we  are  willing 
to  grant  the  request  or  not." 

"But  I  want  to  come  where  you  are,  an'  have  a 
quiet  chat.  I'll  agree  to  go  away  quietly  whenever 
you  say  the  word." 

"I  am  not  disposed  to  believe  one  who  has  al- 
ready done  what  you  have,"  Petro  replied  sharply. 

"I'll  agree  to  give  up  all  weapons,  an'  put  myself 
in  your  power,  as  a  proof  that  I'm  talkin'  on  the 
square." 

Petro  hesitated  an  instant,  and  Winn,  fearing  lest 
he  was  about  to  agree  to  the  proposition,  shook  his 
head  energetically  as  he  whispered : 

"You  can't  put  any  dependence  in  what  he  says." 

"I  have  already  had  sufficient  proof  of  that,  my 
boy,  and  do  not  intend  to  take  any  chances." 

"Well,  what  do  you  say?"  Bart  asked  impatiently. 


220    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  enter  the 
passage,  and  I  give  fair  warning  that  I  am  ready  to 
shoot  at  the  first  target  which  presents  itself.  You 
can  do  your  talking  where  you  are,  and  I'll  listen  so 
long  as  it  pleases  me." 

That  Gerry  was  not  satisfied  with  such  permis- 
sion could  be  told  from  the  fact  that  it  was  several 
seconds  before  he  made  any  reply,  and  then  he  said 
in  a  tone  of  ill-temper : 

*'I  reckon  I'm  a  fool  for  tryin'  to  do  you  a  good 
turn ;  but  I'll  keep  on  now  I've  begun,  even  if  you  do 
choose  to  put  on  so  many  airs.  Of  course,  you 
know  that  a  brig  has  lately  anchored  off  here?" 

''Yes,  we  know  it,"  Petro  replied  curtly. 

"Well,  that  craft  is  on  the  same  errand  as  we  are, 
an'  it  ain't  likely  the  treasure  will  long  remain  hid- 
den if  all  hands  make  a  thorough  search.  Nor  is  it 
reasonable  to  suppose  you  can  hold  out  many  days 
with  the  crews  of  both  vessels  against  you,  and  we 
shall  make  a  trade  with  them  of  the  brig  unless  you 
offer  better  inducements." 

"If  we  are  so  wholly  in  your  power,  why  waste 
time  bargaining  with  us?"  Petro  asked  ironically, 
holding  his  weapon  in  readiness  for  instant  use  in 
case  the  mate  of  the  "Flying  Scud"  should  be  so 
venturesome  as  to  show  himself. 

"I'm  willing  to  tell  you  our  side  of  it,  an'  give  you 


A  PARLEY.  221 

all  the  advantage  of  workin'  both  ends  of  the  trade. 
We've  come  for  this  treasure,  an'  are  goin'  to  get  it, 
even  though  we  stay  a  twelve-month.  You  know 
where  it  is,  an'  can  save  us  a  long  time  of  searching 
for  I'm  willin'  to  admit  that  perhaps  it'll  be  weeks 
before  we  find  it.  But  with  both  crews  workin'  it 
shouldn't  take  many  days,  for  the  pile  must  be  too 
bulky  to  be  shifted  around  very  often.  What  good 
is  it  to  you  here?  If  we  left  this  island  to-morrow 
you  might  stay  on  it  till  you  died  without  seein'  a 
chance  for  gettin'  away,  an'  allowin'  we  give  up 
beaten,  how  much  better  trade  can  you  make  with 
the  next  captain  who  puts  in  here?" 

^'I  was  willing  to  give  you  that  which  Manuel 
Telceda  promised,  and  it  would  have  repaid  you  for 
the  venture  a  thousand  times  over;  but  it  was  not 
enough  according  to  your  ideas;  you  demanded  the 
lion's  share,  and,  intending  to  possess  the  secret  by 
force,  made  me  a  prisoner." 

''There's  no  need  of  harkin'  back  to  what  has  been 
done.  Here's  the  way  we  stand  now,  an'  we'll  live 
up  to  the  bargain :  You  shall  show  us  where  the 
treasure  is,  an'  we'll  take  the  whole  on  board  the 
Tlying  Scud'  as  soon  as  our  crew  can  ship  it.  We'll 
carry  you,  an',  if  it's  any  inducement,  the  sneak  who 
deserted,  to  whatever  part  of  the  world  you  choose, 
and  the  money  shall  then  be  divided  into  two  equal 


232    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

parts,  you  takin'  one,  an'  we  the  other.  Can  you 
make  a  better  bargain  than  that  with  any  one?" 

"What  assurance  have  we  of  even  making  that 
bargain  with  you,  when  once  the  treasure  is  on 
board  your  vessel  ?"  Petro  asked,  as  if  on  the  point 
of  yielding. 

"You  have  my  word,  an'  that  should  be  enough. 
As  the  matter  stands  we'll  be  in  a  position  to  take 
the  whole  of  it  if  we  join  forces  with  the  captain  of 
the  brig.  Accept  my  offer,  an'  you  get  half,  which, 
accordin'  to  Manuel  Telceda's  story,  is  more  than 
any  one  man  needs." 

"Your  word  is  too  slight  a  staff  for  an  honest  man 
to  lean  upon,"  Petro  replied  sharply.  "After  the 
past  experience  I  had  rather  you  were  my  enemy 
than  my  friend;  therefore,  unless  you  delight  in 
hearing  yourself  talk,  we'll  say  no  more  about  it. 
You  can  join  forces  at  once  with  the  captain  of  the 
brig,  if  it  so  be  he  is  willing;  but  never  with  me." 

"You'd  better  take  time  an'  think  the  matter  over 
before  puttin'  an'  end  to  the  bargainin',"  Gerry  cried 
threateningly.  "If  I  leave  this  place  an'  go  to  the 
captain  of  the  brig,  the  offer  will  never  be  repeated ; 
but  in  course  of  a  few  days  we  shall  come  upon  the 
treasure  whether  you  will  or  no." 

"It  would  have  been  as  well  had  you  never  made 
the  offer,  for  it  is  but  a  waste  of  breath  to  talk  with 


A  PARLEY.  223 

me  after  showing,  as  you  have,  what  you  are  capable 
of  doing/* 

"Then  you  are  willin'  to  take  the  chances?" 

*'I  am  ready  to  accept  any  chance  rather  than  treat 
with  you  or  any  whom  you  may  send.  He  who 
plays  the  pirate  by  making  a  prisoner  of  one  over 
whom  he  has  no  authority,  and  does  not  hesitate  to 
threaten  with  torture  a  refusal  to  betray  a  sacred 
trust,  is  not  to  be  depended  upon,  however  desperate 
may  be  the  situation.  I  cannot  force  you  away  from 
where  you  are,  but  I  shall  cease  to  reply;  therefore 
you  had  best  treat  with  the  captain  of  the  brig.  He 
may  be  a  better  companion  for  you  than  I  should 
prove,  for  as  yet  he  doesn't  know  you  as  well." 

"You'll  wish  your  answer  hadn't  been  quite  so 
high  an'  mighty,  Mr,  Petro  Garcia,  before  this  busi- 
ness is  ended,"  Gerry  shouted  in  a  rage.  "Fve 
given  you  a  fair  show;  but  it's  the  last,  an'  from  this 
moment  the  Aymara  treasure  is  as  much  lost  to  you 
as  if  you  were  a  thousand  miles  from  here,  an'  we 
with  it  in  our  possession." 

Petro  remained  silent,  and  the  parley  was  ended, 
for  at  that  instant  what  appeared  to  be  a  man's  head 
was  seen  at  the  entrance  of  the  passage,  and  with 
the  quickness  of  thought  the  report  of  a  revolver 
rang  out,  followed  by  a  mocking  laugh  which  told 
that  Gerry  had  had  recourse  to  the  old  Indian  ruse, 


224    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

having  probably  thrust  out  a  cap  on  a  stick  to  draw 
the  fire  of  the  besieged. 

*'It  was  but  a  farce,"  Petro  said  to  Winn  with  a 
grim  smile,  ''and  as  such  a  fitting  conclusion  to  your 
mate's  proposition.  Had  his  offer  been  accepted,  it 
is  more  than  likely  we  would  be  marooned  here  on 
the  island,  while  the  schooner  sailed  away  with  the 
wealth  of  my  people." 

''It's  certain  he  wouldn't  have  kept  his  word,  no 
matter  what  it  was,"  Winn  replied  in  a  whisper,  not 
daring  to  speak  aloud  lest  his  voice  be  recognized, 
and  the  crew  of  the  "Flying  Scud"  be  thus  told  that 
he  was  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

Winn  had  no  very  good  idea  as  to  how  it  might 
further  their  ends  for  him  still  to  be  believed  dead, 
but  from  motives  of  prudence  he  desired  that  the 
secret  should  be  kept  yet  a  little  longer. 

"Go  and  tell  Joe  Savage  what  you  have  just 
heard.  The  sound  of  voices  has  perhaps  made  him 
uneasy,  and  a  sharp  lookout  must  be  kept  from  that 
passage,  for  if  the  mate  spoke  truly  as  to  joining 
forces  with  the  captain  of  the  brig,  they  may  soon 
begin  searching  for  another  entrance  to  this 
place." 

Winn  ran  at  full  speed  through  the  cavern,  pass- 
ing directly  over  the  hidden  hoard  which  had  already 
provoked  so  much  trouble  and  inhumanity,  and  when 


A  PARLEY.  325 

arrived  at  Joe's  post  of  duty,  repeated  as  nearly  as 
was  possible  all  that  had  been  said. 

"In  the  first  place  Bart  Gerry  was  lyin',  accord- 
in'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'/'  the  sailor  said  when  the 
story  came  to  an  end.  "I  don't  believe  the  skipper 
of  the  brig  has  made  any  offer  to  him,  although  I'm 
not  sayin'  sich  a  scheme  hasn't  come  into  Gerry's 
head ;  but  whether  it  can  be  worked  or  not  is  another 
matter.  If  he'd  been  so  certain  of  findin'  the  gold 
there  wouldn't  have  been  any  talk  made.  We've  got 
it,  lad,  an'  we'll  hold  it  in  spite  of  all  they  can  do." 

"Yet  you  must  admit,  Joe,  that  Gerry  told  only 
the  truth  when  he  said  we  might  wait  for  years 
without  having  a  chance  to  leave  this  island,  and 
who  shall  say  that  the  next  men  we  talk  with  won't 
prove  as  hard  at  a  bargain  as  those  in  command  of 
the  Tlying  Scud'?" 

"All  that  may  be  true,  lad;  but  I  ain't  allowin' 
we'll  stop  here  sich  a  dreadful  while  after  these  vil- 
ains  find  out  they're  beaten,  because  if  us  three  can't 
manage  to  make  a  craft  of  some  kind  that  will  at 
least  carry  us  an'  a  good  share  of  the  gold  to  Port 
Refuge  on  Direction  Island,  which  is  one  of  this 
'ere  group,  then  we're  pretty  poor  sticks.  I've  been 
thinkin'  the  matter  over  for  an  hour,  an'  see  our  way 
out  of  it  clean.  I'd  be  willin'  to  take  my  chances  in 
the  dory.     What  would  prevent  us  from  takin'  away 


226    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

gold  enough  to  buy  a  small  schooner?  It  wouldn't 
cut  any  figger  in  the  pile,  if  it's  as  big  as  Manuel  an' 
Petro  make  out.  Once  let  us  beat  this  gang  off,  an' 
we'll  work  through  in  great  shape.  You  can  tell 
Garcia  that  these  'ere  vessels  won't  stay  at  anchor 
twenty- four  hours  longer." 

"What  makes  you  think  that?" 

*'The  weather,  lad.  Look  out !"  and  Joe  pointed 
to  a  bank  of  clouds  which  could  be  seen  far  down 
to  the  eastward.  "I'm  countin'  on  havin'  the  island 
to  ourselves  for  a  spell,  or  Captain  Jim  ain't  the 
sailor  I've  always  taken  him  to  be." 

Although  as  yet  Winn  had  suffered  no  hardship 
in  being  thus  virtually  kept  a  prisoner  within  the 
cavern,  the  knowledge  that  he  would  probably  soon 
be  at  liberty  was  most  pleasing,  and  he  returned  at 
full  speed  to  acquaint  Petro  with  the  supposed 
fact. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day  nothing  was 
heard  of  those  who  would  possess  themselves  of  the 
Aymara  treasure  by  no  other  right  than  that  of 
might,  and  before  the  sun  set  there  was  no  longer 
any  doubt  as  to  the  correctness  of  Joe's  prediction. 

Already  the  wind  had  sprung  up  from  the  east, 
and  the  sky  was  filled  with  ominous-looking  clouds. 

As  a  matter  of  course  nothing  of  this  could  be 
seen  from  the  passage  where  Petro  stodd  guard, 


A  PARLEY.  227 

while  it  was  clearly  apparent  at  Joe*s  end  of  the 
tunnel. 

Winn  reported  the  fact  to  the  old  man,  who  said, 
after  a  moment's  thought : 

"It  is  necessary  we  should  know  when  the  vessels 
put  to  sea.  You  shall  stand  guard  here,  and  I  will 
venture  out  along  the  coast." 

"Let  me  do  that!"  Winn  cried  pleadingly.  "I 
can  make  my  way  among  the  rocks  as  well  as  you, 
and  there  is  no  reason  why  I  shouldn't  have  some 
share  in  the  dangers." 

"If  one  be  cautious  there  is  no  danger  in  going 
along  the  shore  until  the  vessels  may  be  seen,  for  at  a 
distance  of  a  hundred  yards  to  the  southward  of  the 
entrance  the  eastern  coast  is  in  full  view." 

"I'll  go,  an'  stay  outside  till  those  villains  show 
what  they  mean  to  do,"  Winn  replied  quickly,  and 
before  Petro  could  remonstrate,  had  he  been  so  dis- 
posed, the  boy  was  running  through  the  chamber. 

Joe  was  not  as  willing  Winn  should  venture  out 
as  Petro  appeared  to  be,  and  some  considerable  dis- 
cussion was  necessary  before  he  would  allow  the  boy 
to  pass. 

He  finally  yielded  to  Winn's  entreaties,  however, 
and  cautioning  him  to  err  on  the  score  of  prudence, 
rather  than  that  of  recklessness,  went  with  him  to 
the  entrance. 

^.   ■ 


228    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

''Keep  the  revolver  in  your  hand,  lad,  an'  if  it 
should  so  chance  that  you  find  anybody  hangin' 
'round  nearby,  come  back  at  once.  Don't  think  it's 
manly  to  fight  rather  than  run  away  at  such  a  time, 
for  our  game  is  to  keep  under  cover  until  the  pirates 
are  tired  out." 

There  was  little  need  for  Joe  to  have  spent  his 
breath  in  such  advice. 

Winn  threaded  his  way  among  the  rocks  along  the 
coast  until  he  was  where  the  cove  lay  in  full  view, 
and  during  this  short  journey  had  neither  seen  nor 
heard  the  enemy. 

Thus  far  the  second  entrance  to  the  cavern  yet 
remained  a  secret,  and  the  guardians  of  the  Aymara 
treasure  could  leave  at  will  what  Gerry  probably 
believed  to  be  their  prison,  should  occasion  require. 

The  boy  was  well  rewarded  for  the  labor,  and 
labor  it  surely  was  to  make  one's  way  amid  that 
mass  of  needle-pointed  rocks  which  lined  the 
coast  in  such  numbers  as  to  form  a  perfect  laby- 
rinth. 

By  the  time  he  had  gained  the  spot  where  both 
vessels  could  be  distinctly  seen,  those  on  board  the 
brig  were  already  making  preparations  for  depar- 
ture. Her  boats  were  alongside,  the  anchor  hove 
short,  and  even  as  he  watched  she  was  gotten  under 
way,  not  a  moment  too  soon,  for  this  portion  of 


A  PAELEY.  229 

Cocos  Island  was  fast  becoming  a  most  dangerous 
lee-shore. 

Then  Winn  saw  the  "Flying  Scud's"  boats  put  off, 
and  to  his  surprise  one  of  her  men  remained  on  shore. 

He  believed  he  recognized  this  solitary  figure  on 
the  beach  as  Bartlett ;  but  the  distance  was  too  great 
to  admit  of  his  seeing  clearly. 

At  all  events,  one,  if  no  more,  was  to  be  left  be- 
hind, and  after  a  short  time  of  reflection  Winn  real- 
ized that  even  though  the  vessels  were  forced  to  put 
to  sea,  the  inland  entrance  to  the  cavern  must  not  be 
left  unguarded. 

''Bart  Gerry  counts  on  starvin'  us  out,''  he  said  to 
himself  when,  having  waited  until  the  schooner  fol- 
lowed the  brig,  he  made  his  way  back  toward  the 
tunnel.  "It's  mighty  lucky  I  came,  else  one  of  us 
might  have  walked  straight  out,  believing  all  hands 
had  gone  away,  an'  then  there  would  have  been 
trouble." 

"Gone,  eh,  an'  left  a  guard  behind?"  Joe  said 
grimly  when  Winn  made  his  report.  "Count  on 
starvin'  us,  eh  ?  Well,  this  is  one  of  the  times  when 
Bart  Gerry  is  out  of  his  reckonin'.  It  wouldn't  be 
a  bad  idee  if  we  should  turn  to  an'  capture  these  'ere 
guards,  would  it?" 

'    "I  don't  see  what  you  could  make  by  it,  an'  for 
my  part  I'd  rather  have  them  outside  the  cave." 


230    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Still  it  could  be  done  if  we  were  so  minded.  I 
was  shipmates  once  with  a  duck  what  had  been  on  a 
treasure-huntin'  cruise  same's  we're  meddlin'  with, 
an'  he  got  into  a  tight  corner  where  he  had  to  do 
pretty  much  the  same  thing  we  oughter  do  this 
minute." 

"I'd  rather  hear  your  shipmate  tell  the  story  than 
try  it  myself,"  Winn  said  with  a  laugh,  as  he  con- 
tinued on  to  make  his  report  to  Petro. 

The  latter  gave  no  sign  either  of  pleasure  or  dis- 
appointment when  told  that  which  the  boy  had  seen ; 
but  his  face  lighted  up  as  Winn  repeated  Joe's  re- 
marks. 

"It  is  most  likely  that  two  have  been  left  behind," 
the  old  man  said  musingly.  "There's  little  chance 
a  search  will  be  made  for  the  other  entrance  to  the 
cave,  more  especially  while  the  wind  is  in  this  quar- 
ter, for  the  surf  runs  high  on  that  side  of  the  island 
at  such  times.  Ask  the  sailor  to  come  here,  and  do 
you  remain  on  duty  there  for  a  while." 

There  was  an  expression  of  thoughtfulness  on 
Winn's  face  as  he  obeyed  this  command,  and  after 
he  had  repeated  the  order  to  Joe  he  added: 

"I  believe  Petro  is  thinking  of  doing  exactly  as 
you  suggest,  an'  I'm  mighty  sorry." 

"Why,  lad?" 

^'Because  in  case  you  should  be  successful,  in 


A   PAELEY.  231 

addition  to  standing  watch,  we  shall  have  two  pris- 
oners to  guard,  an'  of  course  they'll  know  I  wasn't 
drowned.  If  one  or  both  escape  after  the  *  Flying 
Scud'  comes  back,  the  secret  will  be  out." 

"I  can't  see  how  that  could  do  you  harm.  Bart 
Gerry  wouldn't  be  any  more  anxious  to  get  hold  of 
us  than  he  is  now ;  it's  only  the  gold  he's  after,  an' 
in  case  he  should  get  the  best  end  of  this  matter  we 
wouldn't  be  allowed  to  trouble  him.  Because  why? 
Because  we'd  be  marooned  here,  that  you  can  depend 
on.  What  a  rare  joke  to  take  Bartlett  prisoner  with 
his  own  revolver,  eh  ?" 

''We  shouldn't  be  any  better  off  if  we  did  it,  an'  I 
claim  it's  takin'  needless  risks;  but  there's  no  sense 
in  my  talking,  because  if  you  and  Petro  agree  on 
anything,  it'll  be  done  in  spite  of  all  I  can  say." 

"That's  where  you're  wrong,  lad.  You've  got  as 
much  voice  in  this  'ere  business  as  either  of  us ;  but 
of  course  if  it  was  a  case  of  two  against  one,  you'd 
have  to  give  in.  I  don't  allow  there's  much  need 
of  keepin'  very  sharp  watch  here;  but  at  the  same 
time  Fd  advise  that  you  don't  go  to  sleep  while  Fm 
away,  for  nobody  can  say  what  might  happen." 
X  Then  with  a  look  of  content  on  his  face,  as  if  he 
believed  matters  would  be  arranged  to  his  liking, 
Joe  went  up  the  passage  in  obedience  to  Petro's 
summons. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TURNING  THE  TABLES. 

If  Winn  could  have  heard  the  conversation  be- 
tween his  two  comrades  he  would  not  have  felt 
wholly  at  ease,  for  immediately  the  sailor  was  suffi- 
ciently near  Petro  to  be  able  to  speak  without  fear 
of  being  overheard,  he  said : 

"So  you  are  counting  on  trying  your  hand  at  tak- 
ing prisoners,  eh  ?" 

"Do  you  not  think  it  can  be  done?" 

"Done?  Of  course  it  can.  What's  to  prevent,  if 
we  set  about  the  business  in  proper  fashion  ?  Who- 
ever is  on  guard  outside  would  no  more  think  there 
was  danger  of  our  creeping  up  behind  them  than 
they  would  of  a  man's  falling  from  the  moon. 
Done?  Why,  Petro,  the  thing  is  the  same  as  done 
when  you  say  we'll  do  it." 

"I  didn't  intend  that  we  should  do  it,"  the  old 
man  replied  with  a  smile. 

**  I  allowed  from  what  Joe  said  that  you'd  about 
the  same  as  made  up  your  mind  to  try  the  plan,  and 
a  mighty  good  one  I  thought  it  was.     If  those  two' 
fellows  keep  watch  at  this  end  of  the  cave,  we're 
hived  in  till  the  Tlying  Scud'  gets  back,  which  may 

232 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  233 

be  a  week  or  more,  accordin'  to  the  looks  of  the 
weather  now." 

"1  beHeve  as  you  do  in  regard  to  that;  but  it  was 
my  intention  to  attempt  the  capture  alone." 

•'Alone?  What's  the  need  of  that?  Why 
shouldn't  I  have  a  hand  in  the  business?" 

"Because,  even  though  we  are  so  certain  the  plan 
is  a  simple  one,  it  may  fail,  and  we  shouldn't  take 
too  great  risks.  Besides,  both  entrances  to  this 
place  must  be  guarded  meanwhile,  and  the  boy  can- 
not do  it  alone." 

"Then  why  shouldn't  I  be  the  one  to  play  the 
game  ?" 

"Because  I  believe  I  can  do  it  best,"  Petro  replied 
with  a  smile,  but  yet  firmly.  "Listen.  You  shall 
remain  here,  standing  so  near  the  entrance  that  you 
can  come  out  quickly  at  the  first  call  for  help.  I, 
who  know  the  way,  will  go  through  the  other  pas- 
sage, and  creep  upon  the  men  from  the  rear.  If  it 
so  chance  only  one  is  on  duty,  the  work  will  be  done 
in  short  order.  If  both  are  there  it  may  be  more 
difficult ;  but  I  shall  succeed." 

"I'd  like  to  have  a  hand  in  it  myself,  for  more  of 
a  lark  than  anything  else;  but  I'm  bound  to  admit 
you  know  your  way  around  the  island  better'n  I  do, 
and  will  most  likely  pull  through  where  I  might  fail, 
because  of  my  clumsiness.     If  you  are  really  count- 


234    THE  TEEASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

ing  on  doin'  it,  my  idea  is  that  there's  no  time  to  be 
lost/' 

•'I  will  go  now.  Half  an  hour  must  be  spent  in 
making  my  way  around  from  the  coast,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  you  are  to  stand  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  entrance;  but  not  so  near  that  there  is  any 
danger  they  could,  by  coming  into  view  suddenly, 
shoot  you  down." 

Without  any  words  of  adieu,  and  as  if  he  was 
bent  on  the  performance  of  the  simplest  task,  Petro 
walked  down  the  passage  until  he  was  stopped  by 
Winn,  who  asked  nervously: 

*'Are  you  really  goin'  to  try  an'  capture  those  fel- 
lows?" 

''Yes,  lad.  I  have  discussed  the  plan  with  Joe 
Savage,  and  he  thinks  as  I  do,  that  the  attempt 
should  be  made.  In  order  to  husband  our  store  of 
provisions  we  must  gather  a  certain  quantity  of  food 
from  the  outside,  and  it  cannot  be  done  while  those 
men  are  at  liberty." 

"But  if  you  should " 

"There  is  no  fear  I  will  run  into  danger,  lad,  and 
by  thus  giving  so  many  words  to  the  subject  we  are 
making  it  appear  of  more  importance  than  really  is 
the  case.  Let  me  pass,  and  in  an  hour  or  less  we 
shall  have  two  of  Captain  Robinson's  crew  in  our 
keeping." 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  235 

It  seemed  as  if  Petro  feared  to  hold  any  lengthy 
conversation  with  the  boy,  for  having  thus  spoken  he 
almost  rudely  pushed  his  way  past,  and  Winn  said  to 
himself  as  the  old  man  disappeared  among  the  monu- 
ments of  rock : 

"I  ain't  so  certain  we'll  have  two  of  Captain  Jim's 
men  in  our  keeping.  Petro  seems  to  think  it  an  easy 
matter  to  capture  them;  but  he  may  find  that  they 
have  something  to  say  about  it.  I  wish  I  could  talk 
to  Joe  for  a  few  minutes;  it  is  going  to  be  tough, 
waiting  here  an  hour,  fearing  each  moment  that  I'll 
hear  what  proves  he  has  been  worsted." 

It  was  not  possible,  however,  for  him  to  hold  any 
communication  with  the  sailor,  except  by  deserting 
his  post  of  duty,  and  this  last  he  would  not  have 
done  even  though  the  provocation  had  been  twenty 
times  as  great. 

Although  Joe  Savage  had  professed  to  believe  the 
proposed  plan  was  one  which  could  easily  be  carried 
into  execution,  he  was  far  from  feeling  comfortable 
in  mind  after  Petro  had  left  him. 

He  realized  fully  that  the  slightest  miscalculation 
or  mishap  might  prove  fatal,  and  as  the  moments 
went  by  his  doubts  and  fears  increased  until  it  be- 
came difficult  to  remain  inactive  while  his  comrade 
was  voluntarily  running  into  possible  danger. 

"There's  one  thing  in  our  favor,  and  that  can't  be 


236    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

gainsaid.  If  he  comes  upon  'em  from  behind,  the 
odds  are  in  his  favor,  an'  the  thing  is  the  same  as 
done;  but  suppose  only  one  is  on  guard  while  the 
other,  prowlin'  round,  plays  on  Petro  the  same  trick 
he  is  counting  on  carrying  through  ?" 

The  moments  passed  slowly,  and  although  the 
sailor  listened  intently  from  time  to  time,  standing 
within  less  than  two  feet  of  the  entrance  to  the 
passage,  not  so  much  as  a  whisper  could  be 
heard. 

*'They  are  either  keepin'  quiet  in  the  hope  we'll 
show  our  noses,  or  else  there's  only  one  of  them 
here,"  Joe  said  to  himself,  and  just  at  that  moment 
a  scuffling  of  feet  could  be  heard  on  the  dry  leaves 
outside. 

There  was  a  muttered  exclamation,  and  Joe  found 
it  difficult  to  repress  the  cry  of  exultation  which  rose 
to  his  lips  as  Bartlett,  with  Petro  walking  close  at 
his  heels,  holding  a  revolver  against  the  man's  head, 
came  into  view. 

''Half  the  work  is  done  without  turning  a  hand," 
Joe  said  in  a  triumphant  whisper,  as  he  began  to 
search  his  former  shipmate  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
arming him.  Then  to  the  prisoner  he  added :  "So 
long  as  you  walk  straight,  Bartlett,  an'  don't  try  to 
give  the  alarm,  we'll  treat  you  in  proper  fashion ;  but 
once  turn  rusty,  and  Bart  Gerry's  style  of  usin'  a 


TURNING  THE   TABLES.  237 

man  won't  be  a  marker  alongside  of  the  way  we'll 
dish  it  out.     Who  was  on  duty  with  you?" 

"Carleton,"  the  sailor  replied  surlily. 

"Where  is  he  now?" 

"He  went  down  to  the  cove  when  the  schooner 
sailed,  and  hasn't  got  back." 

"Was  he  the  only  one  left  ashore  ?" 

"So  far  as  I  know;  but  there  might  have  been 
somebody  from  the  brig." 

"Why  do  you  think  so  ?" 

"Because  it's  pretty  near  certain  they  put  in  here 
for  the  treasure,  and  it  seems  reasonable  they  might 
have  wanted  to  keep  their  eyes  on  it  same  as  we 
did." 

"But  you  haven't  had  your  eyes  on  it  yet,  my 
hearty,  an'  accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'  you 
never  will." 

"Can  you  look  after  this  man  so  far  as  to  make 
certain  he  won't  escape,  or  shall  I  find  something 
with  which  to  fetter-^him  ?"  Petro  asked. 

For  reply  Joe  took  from  his  pocket  a  silk  neck- 
kerchief,  and  as  if  having  had  much  experience 
in  such  work,  tied  Bartlett's  elbows  behind  him  in 
such  fashion  that  it  was  not  possible  for  the  latter  to 
use  his  arms. 

"I  reckon  he'll  stay  where  he  is,"  Joe  said  an- 
grily.    "If  he  agrees  to  hold  his  tongue  we  won't 


238    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

truss  him  up  any  more;  but  I  warn  him  that  at  the 
least  show  of  crookedness  I  shall  shoot  mighty  quick, 
because  this  is  a  case  of  workin'  to  save  my  own  life." 

Petro  did  not  wait  to  hear  any  further  threats 
from  Joe,  but  hastened  down  the  passage  once  more, 
bent  on  making  a  second  capture,  and  as  soon  as 
Winn  heard  his  footsteps  he  cried  eagerly : 

"Did  you  give  up  tryin'  to  get  the  man  ?" 

''I  have  caught  one,  and  am  now  after  the  other. 
Be  patient  half  an  hour  longer,  and  then  there  will 
be  nothing  to  prevent  your  moving  around  the  island 
at  your  pleasure,  at  least  so  long  as  the  'Flying  Scud' 
is  absent." 

Then  Petro  disappeared  among  the  wilderness  of 
rocks  again,  and  Winn  regretted  that  he  had  not 
asked  which  of  the  sailors  was  a  prisoner. 

Meanwhile  Joe  Savage  was  adding  to  his  fund  of. 
information  regarding  the  treasure-seekers  on  board 
the  ^'Flying  Scud,"  and  the  prisoner,  who  did  not 
appear  particularly  distressed  at  thus  having  been 
deprived  of  his  liberty,  answered  all  questions  with 
apparent  willingness. 

'T  reckon  Bart  Gerry  stormed  considerable  when 
he  found  I'd  taken  French  leave?" 

"I  was  below  when  he  and  Captain  Jim  came 
aboard;  but  from  what  we  heard  next  day  I  reckon 
he  didn't  take  it  very  mildly." 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  239 

"And  he  counts  on  getting  hold  of  me  again,  I 
reckon  ?" 

''That's  the  idea,  and  it  looks  to  me  as  if  he  would 
do  it,  too.  See  here,  Joe,  you  an'  I've  been  ship- 
mates on  more'n  one  cruise,  an'  there's  no  reason 
why  we  should  be  at  odds  just  because  you  an'  the 
mate  don't  hitch  up.  I  believe  you're  wrong  in 
sidin'  with  this  'ere  foreigner.  Because  why  ?  Be- 
cause he  can't  hope  to  hold  out  agin  the  whole  of  the 
crew." 

"He  seems  to  be  doin'  it  pretty  well  so  far,  don't 
he?" 

"Wait  till  the  wind  hauls  'round  in  the  west  again, 
an'  you  may  sing  a  different  tune.  It  can't  take  a 
great  spell  to  starve  you  out  of  this  place,  an'  from 
what  I've  heard  said  by  Captain  Jim  an'  the  mate, 
they're  ready  to  stay  here  six  months,  but  that  they'll 
do  it." 

"Six  years  ain't  long  enough,  Bartlett.  It  may 
be  before  you  leave  this  'ere  hole  in  the  ground,  that 
you'll  have  a  better  idea  of  it  than  is  in  your  head 
now.  I  tell  you  we're  snug  just  so  long  as  it  suits 
us  to  stay." 

"Suppose  the  crew  of  the  brig  are  bent  on  the 
same  errand  as  Captain  Jim  is  ?" 

"It  don't  make  any  difference  if  there's  a  hundred 
brigs  with  the  crews  of  'em  tryin'  to  smoke  us  out. 


240    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

It  can't  be  done.  What  does  the  crew  say  to  hangin' 
'round  here  on  a  treasure-seekin'  expedition  when 
they  shipped  for  a  tradin'  voyage?" 

''Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  they  don't  like  it." 
''Will  all  hands  be  willin'  to  stay  six  months  if 
Bart  Gerry  happens  to  say  so?" 

''That's  to  be  seen.  None  of  'em  believe  it'll  take 
more'n  a  week  to  get  the  best  of  you,  and  once  that 
foreigner  is  on  board  the  'Flying  Scud'  again,  he'll 
tell  what  he  knows." 

"Then  you  men  ain't  afraid  of  the  law  ?" 
"How  could  the  law  touch  us  here  where  there 
ain't  any?" 

"I  don't  reckon  it  could,  my  hearty;  but  there's 
such  things  as  naval  ships  floatin'  'round  this  sec- 
tion of  the  world,  an'  even  if  you  don't  run  across 
one  of  them,  you've  got  to  get  home  some  time.  Tak- 
ing an  American  citizen  prisoner;  torturing  him 
into  tellin'  what  you  want  to  know,  an'  then  robbin' 
him  ain't  safe  work  for  sailormen.  Them  as  fol- 
lows Bart  Gerry  will  find  out  so.  I  figgered  this 
whole  thing  in  my  mind,  and  says  I  to  myself,  says 
I,  'Joe  Savage,  the  sooner  you  take  yourself  away 
from  the  "  Flying  Scud,"  the  better  it'll  be  for  you, 
an'  there's  no  need  of  waitin'  for  wages,  'cause  you 
want  to  show  right  from  the  start  that  you  wasn't 
concerned  in  the  business  that's  likely  to  lead  them 


TUENING   THE   TABLES.  241 

as  have  a  share  in  it  to  State's  prison/  So  I'm  here, 
an'  you're  with  me,  Bartlett,  an'  goin'  to  stay  one 
spell,  anyhow.  Now  what's  it  to  be?  A  friendly 
kind  of  a  visit,  or  do  you  want  to  turn  rusty  an' 
make  all  the  trouble  for  us  you  can  ?" 

"Why,  as  for  the  matter  of  that,  I'm  willing  to  be 
as  friendly  as  you  say,  so  long's  I  can't  help  myself. 
I  count  on  your  feedin'  me,  an'  sich  as  that;  but  I 
ain't  the  fool  to  kick  when  there's  nothin'  to  be  made 
by  it." 

"Then  you'll  find  yourself  used  in  proper  fashion, 
as  I  said  before,  an'  the  time  will  come,  Bartlett, 
when  you'll  thank  Petro  Garcia  an'  me  for  what 
we've  done  this  day." 

Judging  from  the  expression  on  the  sailor's  face 
he  had  no  very  great  faith  in  this  last  assertion ;  but 
was  wise  enough  to  hold  his  peace,  and  Joe  gave 
proof  of  his  friendly  feelings  by  filling  a  pipe,  light- 
ing it,  and  placing  it  between  his  former  shipmate's 
teeth. 

**Now  we'll  sit  down  comfortable-like  an'  wait 
for  Carleton  to  be  brought  in,  for  he's  bound  to 
come,  my  hearty,  when  a  man  like  Petro  is  after 
him." 

Bartlett  made  no  reply,  and  in  silence  the  two 
remained,  one  sitting  on  the  ground  with  his  back 
against  the  wall  of  the  passage,  and  the  other  stand- 


242     THE  TREASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

ing  near  the  entrance  where  he  could  answer  to  any 
appeal  for  assistance. 

Five  minutes  later  the  sound  of  careless  footsteps 
told  that  Petro  had  brought  his  venture  to  a  success- 
ful termination,  otherwise  he  would  have  approached 
more  cautiously. 

The  second  man  had  been  made  prisoner,  and  was 
marched  into  the  tunnel ;  but  did  not  appear  to  take 
his  capture  at  heart  as  had  his  shipmate. 

"Hello,  Joe !"  he  cried  cheerily.  "I've  been  troub- 
lin'  my  head  because  Bartlett  an'  I  were  to  stand 
long  watches;  but  your  friend  has  put  an  end  to  all 
that,  an'  now  I  reckon  we'll  live  on  the  fat  of  the 
land,  for  accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin'  you  had  a 
pretty  good  idea  of  how  matters  were  goin'  before 
you  gave  up  your  berth  on  board  the  'Flying  Scud.'  " 

"Glad  to  see  you,  shipmate,"  Joe  replied  with  a 
laugh,  "an'  you  ain't  makin'  any  mistake  about  the 
way  we're  fixed  here.  How  did  Petro  get  hold  of 
you?" 

"li.  wasn't  any  hard  job,  seein's  I  hadn't  an  idea 
you  fellows  could  leave  this  'ere  place  while  Bartlett 
stood  watch.  I  was  tryin'  to  knock  down  a  cocoa- 
nut  or  two  when  he  come  up  behind  with  his  re- 
volver, and  I  accepted  the  invitation  without  making 
too  much  talk.  To  tell  the  truth,  old  man,  I  ain't 
sorry  you've  done  this  thing,  for  the  course  our  cap- 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  243 

tain  and  mate  have  been  steerin'  hasn't  been  to  my 
likin'." 

"Fm  glad  to  see  you've  got  some  sense  about  you, 
Carleton.  Of  course  it  ain't  to  your  Hkin',  nor  to 
the  Hkin'  of  any  honest  sailorman.  Now  I've 
trussed  Bartlett  up  to  keep  him  with  us ;  but  if  you'll 
give  me  your  word  that  there'll  be  no  tryin'  to  skin 
out,  we  won't  use  force.  You  can  join  this  little 
family  party,  an'  I  shan't  have  to  waste  my  neck- 
kerchiefs  usin'  'em  for  ropes." 

"I'm  willin'  to  be  lashed  up,  or  run  'round  loose- 
like, just  as  you  say;  but  I'll  agree  to  obey  orders 
till  further  notice." 

"Then  we'll  get  along  as  pleasant  as  three  kit- 
tens, an'  if  any  scratchin'  is  done,  Bartlett's  the  one 
who'll  have  to  show  his  claws,  in  which  case  we 
shan't  try  to  handle  him  any  too  tender,  that's  cer- 
tain. Do  you  happen  to  know  if  you  two  are  the 
only  ones  left  here  to  starve  us  out  ?" 

"All  the  brig's  crew  went  on  board  when  she 
weighed  anchor,  an'  I'll  give  you  my  word  there's 
no  more  of  us." 

Petro,  who  had  lingered  in  the  passage  until  this 
remark  was  made,  now  hastened  toward  Winn's 
post  of  duty,  and  returned  with  the  boy  a  few  mo- 
ments later. 

The  expression  on  the  faces  of  the  two  men  when 


244    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

the  lad,  whom  they  had  believed  to  be  dead,  made  his 
appearance,  would  have  been  comical  but  for  the 
terror  displayed. 

"Thought  he'd  gone  to  feed  the  sharks,  did  you, 
mates?"  Joe  said  with  a  hearty  laugh.  'T  allowed 
I  could  pull  the  wool  over  Bart  Gerry's  eyes;  but 
didn't  suppose  all  of  you  would  swallow  it  so  easy. 
The  lad  is  no  more  of  a  thief  than  you  are,  an' 
here's  the  whole  yarn." 

Then  Joe  told  in  a  few  words  of  what  he  himself 
had  learned  regarding  the  mate's  plot,  and  how 
simple  a  matter  it  proved  to  outwit  him. 

'That's  the  kind  of  a  man  you  shipped  under, 
though  you  ain't  to  blame  for  signin'  articles,  'cause 
you  didn't  know  how  black  he  really  was;  but  now 
you've  got  my  word  an'  the  boy's,  an'  can  see  for 
yourselves  what  Bart  Gerry  is  willin'  to  do  for  the 
sake  of  a  few  dollars." 

Carleton  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  in  deep  thought 
and  then  approaching  Winn,  held  out  his  hand  as  he 
said  heartily: 

"I'm  sorry,  lad,  that  I  had  a  hand  in  what  was 
done  against  you  on  board  the  schooner;  but  with 
the  captain  and  mate  accusin'  us  in  the  forecastle  of 
robbin'  them,  it  ain't  surprising  that  we  should  have 
hit  upon  you  as  the  thief.  I'm  glad  you  got  out  of  it 
so  well,  and  hope  you  hold  no  ill-will  against  me." 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  245 

"Of  course  I  don't,"  Winn  replied  promptly,  as 
he  shook  hands  with  the  sailor.  ''Any  one  would 
have  believed  as  you  did,  for  who  could  suppose  that 
the  captain  and  mate  of  a  vessel  would  do  such  a 
thing?" 

''And  they  accused  me  of  being  the  thief !"  Bart- 
lett  cried  vindictively. 

"That  was  only  to  shut  your  eye,  and  make  you 
do  what  you  did  toward  fixin'  the  crime  on  this  boy," 
Joe  said.  "But  there's  enough  of  this  chinnin'. 
Let's  call  all  hands  to  supper,  Petro,  an'  make  kind 
of  a  feast  out'er  this  'ere  gatherin',  seein's  how 
everything  is  friendly  and  sociable,  so  to  speak." 

Once  more  Winn  acted  as  cook,  and  after  a  plen- 
tiful amount  of  the  cabin  stores  had  been  eaten,  the 
two  prisoners  appeared  quite  as  well  content  with  the 
situation  as  did  their  captors. 

The  meal  finished,  and  when  each  man  had  filled 
his  pipe,  Carleton  made  a  proposition : 

"Look  here,  mates,  I  allow  you're  countin'  on 
keepin'  us  in  this  'ere  cave  till  Captain  Jim  an'  the 
mate  either  get  the  treasure,  or  give  up  trying  to  find 
it,  eh?" 

"That's  about  the  size  of  it,  my  hearty,"  Joe  re- 
plied. 

"I've  had  enough  of  such  business  as  has  been 
goin'  on  aboard  the  Tlying  Scud,'  an'  if  it  so  be 


246    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

you're  willin'  to  take  me  into  your  mess,  Joe  Savage, 
I'll  ship  from  this  out.  Don't  think  I'm  tryin'  to 
get  a  finger  in  the  treasure  we've  heard  so  much 
about,  because  I  ain't.  I'll  give  up  the  wages  due 
me,  an'  take  hold  here  with  you  as  able  seaman, 
cook's  mate,  or  whatever  lay  you're  willing  to  give." 

Instead  of  speaking  Joe  leaned  forward  to  clasp 
his  shipmate  by  the  hand,  after  which  he  looked  in- 
quiringly toward  Petro. 

"If  you  answer  for  him  it  shall  be  as  he  wishes," 
the  latter  replied. 

"Answer  for  Dave  Carleton?  Of  course  I  will, 
and  for  Bartlett,  too,  if  it  so  be  he  is  minded  to 
make  the  same  offer." 

"It  seems  hard  for  a  man  to  give  up  his  wages 
after  comin'  around  the  Horn;  yet  I  ain't  certain 
but  it's  the  best  trade  I  can  make,"  Bartlett  said 
thoughtfully. 

"Then  it's  a  go." 

"It's  a  go,"  Carleton  added,  and  Bartlett  gravely 
repeated  the  same  words. 

"It  was  not  for  such  a  purpose  that  I  made  prison- 
ers of  you  two,"  Petro  said  slowly,  "yet  right  glad 
am  I  that  you  have  thus  decided,  for  it  will  make  our 
work  less  difficult.  There  is  treasure  on  this  island, 
and  its  hiding  place  is  known  to  me — it  can  be  found 
by  none  other.    You  shall  not  lose  your  wages,  men. 


TURNING   THE   TABLES.  247 

for  if  we  succeed  in  carrying  this  wealth  to  the 
United  States,  so  much  of  it  shall  be  yours  as  will 
pay  you  twice  over  from  the  day  you  left  port  until 
we  arrive  there." 

''I  wasn't  figgerin'  on  anything  of  that  kind,  Mr. 
Garcia,"  Carleton  said  half  laughingly;  ''but  you 
have  made  the  offer  of  your  own  free  will,  an'  I 
shall  hold  you  to  it,  expecting  meanwhile  to  do  what- 
ever duty  a  sailorman  can  do  on  shore  by  way  of 
giving  you  fair  returns  for  your  money." 

"Then  we've  signed  new  papers,  have  we  ?"  Bart- 
lett  asked,  and  Carleton  said  with  a  laugh : 

''That  we  have,  mate,  and  knowing  Joe  Savage  as 
well  as  I  do,  seein's  he  goes  bail  for  Mr.  Garcia,  ac- 
cordin'  to  my  idea  we've  made  a  mighty  good  trade 
in  shiftin'  berths." 


CHAPTER  XVL 

LAYING  IN  STORES. 

When  night  came  the  threatened  storm  had  burst 
upon  the  isknd;  but  it  occasioned  neither  inconve- 
nience nor  discomfort  to  the  occupants  of  the  cavern, 
who,  assembled  in  the  circular  chamber,  which  was 
illuminated  by  the  cheery  blaze,  listened  contentedly 
to  the  bowlings  of  the  tempest. 

Once  the  prisoners  had  signified  their  desire  to 
become  comrades  and  the  details  of  the  matter  were 
settled,  all  hands  set  about  laying  in  a  store  of  fuel, 
and  before  the  rain  began  to  fall  there  was  such  a 
stock  of  wood  piled  up  directly  over  where  the  treas- 
ure was  buried,  as  would  suffice  to  keep  the  fire 
burning  for  many  days. 

It  was  only  natural  that  during  the  evening  the 
conversation  ran  mainly  upon  the  Aymara  treasure, 
and  Petro  Garcia  told  his  comrades  a  story  similar 
to  that  related  by  Manuel  Telceda  . 

In  fact,  he  confided  freely  in  these  new  recruits, 
save  as  to  revealing  the  present  location  of  the 
hoard,  and  more  than  once  repeated  the  promise 
made  relative  to  payment  for  their  services. 

248 


LAYING   IN    STORES.  249 

Having  once  seen  the  second  outlet,  Carleton  and 
Bartlett  felt  no  uneasiness  regarding  the  ability  of 
the  party  to  hold  possession  of  the  cavern,  however 
many  enemies  might  be  on  the  outside,  and  therefore 
little  time  was  spent  in  speculating  upon  what  would 
be  done  by  the  crews  of  the  brig  and  the  'Tlying 
Scud." 

As  if  positive  they  would  triumph  in  due  course  of 
time,  the  men  talked  only  of  the  future,  and  laid 
plans  for  leaving  the  island  once  it  should  be  possible 
to  work  outside  unmolested. 

The  three  sailors  appeared  to  have  no  doubt  but 
that  in  case  the  dory  was  found  by  a  searching  party, 
a  craft  of  some  kind  could  be  fashioned,  and  Joe's 
proposition  that  they  make  no  other  attempt  than 
to  reach  Port  Refuge,  where  he  believed  it  would  be 
possible  to  purchase  a  vessel,  met  with  the  approval 
of  all. 

"It  ain't  as  if  we  hadn't  a  dollar,"  he  said  com- 
placently. 'Tf  we  find  a  vessel  for  sale,  it's  only  a 
question  of  whether  we  want  her  or  not,  because 
Petro  can  supply  us  with  as  much  good  hard  gold 
as  we  need.  Once  Bart  Gerry  an'  the  likes  of  him 
have  been  driven  off  or  tired  out,  this  'ere  will  be  no 
more  than  a  picnic  for  us.  We'll  get  a  snug  little 
craft,  provision  her  in  such  fashion  as  sailormen 
never  dreamed  of,  an'  sail  along  toward  home  ac- 


250    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

cordin'  as  the  wind  may  blow,  without  any  too  much 
pullin'  an'  haulin'.  There'll  be  no  question  of  tryin' 
to  make  a  fair  wind  out  of  a  foul  one,  because  we  can 
heave-to  whenever  we  feel  inclined.  I've  often 
thought  about  goin'  to  sea  in  such  fashion  as  that ; 
but  until  I  struck  this  racket,  never  believed  it  would 
be  possible." 

Thanks  to  the  word-pictures  painted  by  the  sailor, 
all  hands,  including  Winn,  began  to  look  upon  their 
troubles  as  having  already  come  to  an  end,  and 
anticipated  for  the  future  months  of  unalloyed  hap- 
piness and  comfort. 

Although  believing  themselves  the  only  human 
beings  on  the  island,  it  was  proposed  that  "anchor 
watch"  be  kept,  and  by  common  consent  Petro 
Garcia,  as  the  oldest  member  of  the  party,  was  to  be 
exempt  from  such  duty. 

At  first  he  objected  most  strenuously  to  such  divis- 
ion of  the  labor,  insisting  that,  despite  his  age,  he 
was  fully  capable  of  doing  a  full  share  of  the  work ; 
but  Joe,  who  considered  himself  second  in  command, 
refused  to  listen  to  his  remonstrance. 

*'When  the  wind  hauls  'round  so  that  our  precious 
friends  can  come  back,  you  shall  stand  watch  and 
watch  with  the  rest  of  us;  but  until  then  I'll  allow 
that  we  three — meaning  Bartlett,  Carleton  and  my- 
self— can  look  out  for  things,  an'  never  feel  it." 


LAYING   m   STOEES.  251 

"Don't  you  reckon  me  in?"   Winn  asked. 

"The  cook  ain't  called  upon  to  stand  watch,  lad, 
an'  that's  the  berth  you're  to  occupy  from  this  time 
out,  unless  it  so  be  we  find  a  better  one  at  Keeling 
Island,  when  you  can  go  into  the  cabin  as  a  pas- 
senger." 

For  the  first  time  since  leaving  Fairhaven,  Winn 
began  to  think  of  the  Aymara  treasure  as  a  reality 
in  which  he  owned  a  share. 

The  confidence  of  the  sailors  that  they  would  be 
able  to  purchase  a  vessel,  and  their  speculations  re- 
garding the  homeward  voyage,  which  all  appeared 
to  consider  a  foregone  conclusion,  caused  him  to 
look  upon  the  hoard  as  he  never  had  done  before,  and 
while  the  others  spent  their  time  deciding  this 
question  or  that  concerning  the  future,  he  was  trying 
to  realize  what  his  position  would  be  when  he  re- 
turned to  Fairhaven  with  more  money  than  the  rich- 
est man  in  town  could  call  his  own. 

His  waking  dreams  were  exceedingly  pleasant  on 
that  evening,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  there  was 
no  longer  anything  to  be  feared  from  the  unprin- 
cipled men  who  were  willing  to  commit  almost  any 
crime  in  order  to  gain  possession  of  the  gold. 

He  quite  forgot  for  the  time  being  that  a  long 
and  possibly  bloody  struggle  must  ensue  before  they 
could  carry  out  the  plan  proposed  by  Joe. 


252    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

That  night  he  slept  sweetly,  visited  by  rose-col- 
ored dreams,  and  on  being  awakened  next  morning, 
set  about  the  duties  of  cook  as  if  the  labor  was  a  real" 
pleasure. 

As  he  worked  the  boy  learned  from  the  conversa- 
tion of  the  men  that  the  storm  was  at  its  height,  and 
that  the  day  would  be  spent  in  comparative  idleness. 

While  they  were  at  breakfast  Petro  told  how  they 
could  add  to  the  stores  by  gathering  shell-fish  and 
cocoanuts,  and  Dave  Carleton  proposed  that  as  soon 
as  the  storm  had  abated  sufficiently  he  and  Joe  would 
make  a  fishing  voyage  in  the  dory. 

''Bartlett  an'  I  brought  ashore  a  couple  of  lines, 
thinkin'  we  might  do  something  in  the  way  of  fishing 
if  the  'Flying  Scud'  was  blown  very  far  off  the 
coast,  and  accordin'  to  the  appearance  of  things  she 
ain't  likely  to  be  back  for  a  spell.  We've  got  salt 
enough  among  the  stores  the  captain  sent  ashore  to 
cure  all  we  can  catch,  I  reckon." 

''I  ought  to  be  kicked  for  not  thinkin'  of  your  pro- 
visions last  night,"  Joe  said  regretfully.  ''I  reckon 
the  salt  won't  be  worth  much  after  it  has  been  out  in 
this  storm  twelve  hours." 

"There's  no  danger  of  its  spoiling,  for  I  saw  to  it 
that  it  was  well  protected  from  the  water  by  a  spare 
sail  Gerry  sent  ashore,"  Bartlett  replied,  "and  if  it 
so  be  you're  willin,'  we'll  bring  the  grub  in  this 


LAYING   IN   STOEES.  253 

morning.  It  better  be  stored  here  than  outside,  an' 
a  little  wettin'  won't  do  either  of  us  any  harm,  my 
hearty." 

After  a  leisurely-eaten  breakfast  was  finished  the 
three  sailors  set  about  bringing  in  the  provisions 
lately  sent  ashore  from  the  'Tlying  Scud,"  and  when 
this  had  been  done  the  quantity  of  stores  in  the  cav- 
ern was  most  reassuring  as  the  men  thought  of  the 
siege  which  they  must  expect  would  be  begun  by 
their  enemies. 

Once  during  the  day  Winn  ventured  out  for  no 
other  purpose  than  to  prove  to  himself  he  could  do 
so  without  danger ;  but  the  foliage  was  so  laden  with 
water,  and  the  deluge  from  the  heavens  so  great, 
that  he  gladly  returned  to  the  shelter  of  the  cavern. 

Not  until  the  following  morning  were  the  clouds 
dispersed,  and  then  all  hands  set  about  with  a  will 
to  lay  in  additional  stores,  for  none  could  say  how 
much  food  might  be  needed  before  their  enemies 
would  allow  themselves  beaten. 

Petro  and  Winn  gathered  cocoanuts  and  oysters. 
Bartlett  undertook  the  labor  of  collecting  fuel, 
while  Joe  Savage  and  Dave  Carleton  carried  into 
execution  the  latter's  plan  of  a  fishing  cruise  on 
board  the  dory. 

When  night  came  all  were  weary  from  their 
labors;  but  it  was  a  pleasant  rather  than  a  painful 


254    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

fatigue,  because  of  the  success  with  which  they  had 
been  rewarded. 

Not  less  than  two  weeks'  stock  of  fuel  was  stored 
nearby  the  spot  that  served  as  a  fireplace.  As  large 
a  quantity  of  shell-fish  as  could  be  eaten  before  it 
spoiled  was  within  the  shelter  of  the  cavern,  and  just 
outside,  where  they  could  be  exposed  to  the  full  rays 
of  the  sun,  were  a  large  number  of  fish  prepared 
for  drying. 

''One  more  such  day's  work,  and  we'll  have  a 
three-months'  supply,"  Joe  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfac- 
tion, and  Petro  added  :\ 

"We  already  have  on 'hand  what  will  serve  until 
the  wind  forces  the  vessels  to  sea  again.  The  ques- 
tion now  which  should  be  considered  is  how  long 
before  the  schooner  may  be  expected." 

"It  will  be  forty-eight  hours  at  the  least  calcula- 
tion, eh,  mates?"  and  Joe  looked  questioningly  at  his 
comrades. 

"Make  it  twice  as  long,  an'  you  won't  be  far  out  of 
the  way,"  Bartlett  replied;  but  Dave  Carleton  was 
inclined  to  believe  that  within  the  time  mentioned 
by  Joe  the  "Flying  Scud"  would  again  be  in  the 
cove,  providing  the  wind  should  be  favorable. 

On  the  following  day  the  work  was  continued 
until  they  had  made  such  an  addition  to  the  stores 
that  it  would  be  folly  to  collect  more. 


LAYIN"G   IN    STORES.  255 

The  fish  were  cured;  the  dory  was  brought  into 
the  cavern,  which  last  was  not  a  difficult  task,  now 
there  were  so  many  laborers,  and  on  this  second 
night  the  entire  watch  was  stationed  at  the  entrance 
of  the  cove,  for  the  wind  was  blowing  gently  from 
the  west,  and  no  man  could  say  how  soon  either  the 
brig  or  the  schooner  would  reappear. 

On  the  third  morning  after  the  departure  of  the 
"Flying  Scud"  Petro  and  Winn  stationed  them- 
selves at  the  western  coast  of  the  island,  Bartlett  was 
left  on  guard  at  the  shore-end  of  the  tunnel,  while 
Joe  Savage  and  Dave  Carleton  stood  watch  near 
the  cove. 

It  was  agreed  that  at  the  first  sight  of  a  sail  he 
who  discovered  it  should  make  his  way  at  once  to 
the  thicket  of  thorns  at  the  entrance  of  the  cavern, 
and  there  shout  to  his  comrades  until  all  were 
warned. 

It  was  nearly  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when 
the  first  vessel  was  descried  by  Winn,  and  he  and 
Petro  had  but  just  gained  the  rendezvous  agreed 
upon,  when  Joe  and  Dave  came  up  with  the  intelli- 
gence that  they  also  had  seen  a  sail  bearing  directly 
toward  the  island,  but  whether  it  was  the  brig  or  the 
schooner  could  not  be  determined. 

"Both  vessels  are  returning,  and  will  arrive  at  an 
anchor  about  the  same  time,"  Petro  said  musingly. 


256    THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"That  is  to  say,  by  to-morrow  morning  we  shall  be 
besieged  again." 

"There's  no  need  of  our  goin'  into  the  cave  before 
nightfall,"  Joe  said  carelessly,  "for  I  allow  the  craft 
I  saw  won't  be  up  until  after  midnight,  and  I  don't 
count  on  housin'  myself  in  when  there's  no  call 
for  it." 

Winn  noticed,  however,  that  the  men  remained 
nearabout  the  entrance  of  the  cavern,  making  fre- 
quent trips  to  the  shore,  as  if  desirous  of  being  with 
their  comrades  leven  though  all  knew  full  well  no 
danger  threatened  until  after  many  hours  had 
elapsed. 

Each  member  of  the  party  seemed  to  have  a  desire 
for  companionship,  born  most  likely  from  the  knowl- 
edge of  coming  danger. 

The  night  watch  was  set  at  both  entrances  of  the 
cavern,  and  as  great  precaution  taken  against  sur- 
prise as  if  the  enemy  had  already  landed. 

Winn  did  not  fall  asleep  as  readily  on  this  night  as 
he  had  previously,  but  when  slumber  closed  his  eye- 
lids the  repose  was  undisturbed  until  Joe's  voice 
awakened  him. 

That  the  morning  had  come  he  knew  as  he  looked 
down  through  the  passage  which  led  to  the  sea,  and 
he  was  therefore  in  a  measure  prepared  for  the  in- 
formation brought  by  the  sailor. 


LAYING    IN    STORES.  _  257 

''The  'Flying  Scud's'  crew  are  ashore  huntin'  for 
their  mates,"  Joe  announced.  ''For  the  last  half 
hour  I've  heard  'em  callin',  an'  perhaps  it  mightn't 
be  a  bad  idea  for  Bartlett  and  Dave  to  tell  'em  what's 
happened." 

Now,  for  the  first  time,  Petro  made  positive  objec- 
tion to  a  plan  proposed  by  Joe  Savage. 

"There's  no  reason  why  we  should  aid  in  their 
search.  Let  them  guess  at  what  really  did  happen, 
as  they  will  after  a  time,  and  it  may  be  better  for 
Captain  Robinson  and  his  mate  to  believe  that  we 
hold  them  unwilling  prisoners." 

Therefore  it  was  that  no  parley  was  held  with  the 
searching  party  from  the  schooner. 

Petro  took  it  upon  himself  to  guard  the  main  pas- 
sage of  the  cavern,  nor  would  he  be  relieved  until 
Winn  announced  that  dinner  was  ready. 

During  all  this  time  the  occupants  of  the  cavern 
had  ample  evidence  that  they  were  again  besieged. 

Twice  a  pistol-shot  had  been  sent  at  random  into 
the  passage,  and  once  Bart  Gerry  himself,  while  pru- 
dently keeping  his  body  screened  from  view,  shouted 
to  Petro,  evidently  with  the  idea  of  continuing  the 
bargain  he  had  previously  declared  was  concluded 
forever,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned. 

No  reply  was  made  to  his  hail,  however,  but  when 
one  of  the  men  from  the  outside  incautiously  ex- 


258    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

posed  himself,  Petro  gave  token  of  being  on  watch 
by  inflicting  a  flesh  wound,  as  could  be  told  from  the 
scream  of  pain  which  followed  the  report  of  the  re- 
volver. 

An  hour  after  dinner  had  been  eaten  the  besieged 
gained,  without  an  effort  on  their  part,  much  valu- 
able information. 

Joe  Savage  was  on  guard  in  the  passage  which 
opened  upon  the  thicket  of  thorns,  and  Winn,  his 
work  having  been  finished,  sat  beside  him. 

From  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  nothing  save  the 
foliage  could  be  seen,  but  the  sentries  knew  that 
something  more  than  ordinary  was  taking  place  out- 
side, because  of  a  hurried  tramping  to  and  fro,  ex- 
clamations of  surprise  now  and  then,  and  voices 
raised  as  if  in  anger. 

'They  must  be  fighting  among  themselves,"  Winn 
suggested.  "At  all  events,  that  is  what  it  sounds 
like." 

"I  reckon  hot  words  are  being  thrown  about  care- 
less like,  but  don't  believe  there's  any  row  there," 
Joe  replied.  "I  allow  I've  got  a  pretty  good  idea  of 
what's  up,"  and  he  crept  a  few  inches  nearer  the 
mouth  of  the  tunnel. 

Winn  stood  close  by  his  side,  and  in  a  few  mo- 
ments the  two  heard  a  man  shout,  half  ironically : 

"The  captain  of  the  brig  wants  to  talk  with  the 


LAYING   IN    STORES.  259 

skipper  of  the  Tlying  Scud/  and  I  reckon  you  come 
pretty  nigh  being  that,  Mr.  Gerry.'* 

''There's  one  on  Bartholomew,"  Joe  whispered,  as 
he  made  strenuous  efforts  to  repress  his  mirth. 

"Captain  Robinson  is  on  board,  as  you  well 
know,"  Gerry  replied;  "but  I  am  in  command  while 
we're  ashore." 

"The  captain  of  the  brig  wants  to  see  you,"  the 
first  speaker  added. 

"He  can  come  here,  if  that's  the  case,  or  else  stay 
where  he  is.     I  shan't  jump  at  his  beck  and  call." 

"Who  may  you  be,  sir?"  the  listener  heard  the 
stranger's  voice  ask  of  the  man  who  had  just  an- 
nounced his  intentions. 

"I'm  the  first  mate  of  the  schooner  'Flying 
Scud.' " 

"I  think  I  heard'you  say  the  captain  was  on  board, 
but  that  you  commanded  while  ashore." 

"I  did  say  so,  whether  you  heard  it  or  not,"  was 
the  angry  reply. 

"If  you  are  the  first  mate,  perhaps  my  question 
can  be  answered  as  well  by  you  as  by  the  captain.  I 
wish  to  know  why  you  came  to  anchor  off  this  isl- 
and." 

"Seein's  we  were  here  when  you  arrived,  I  reckon 
you'd  better  give  your  reasons  for  anchoring  here." 

"There's  no  good  cause  why  I  should." 


360    THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"And  there's  -no  call  for  us  to  make  any  explana- 
tion," Gerry  replied. 

"I  reckon,  lad,  they're  likely  to  get  up  a  first-class 
row  between  themselves,  and  if  that  captain  is  any- 
where near  as  cross-grained  as  Bart  Gerry,  there  will 
be  fun  outside  before  long." 

Then  followed  a  brief  time  of  silence,  which  was 
broken  by  Gerry,  who  said  offensively : 

"I  don't  reckon  you've  got  any  more  claim  on  this 
island  than  we  have." 

"I  think  you  are  mistaken,"  was  the  quiet  reply; 
"and,  owing  to  such  belief,  propose  that  you  finish 
your  business  here  within  twenty-four  hours  and 
then  weigh  anchor." 

"Oh,  you  do,  eh?"  Bart  replied,  with  an  angry 
sneer.  "Perhaps  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  tell  me 
what  you  propose  to  do  in  case  we  shouldn't  be 
frightened  by  your  bullyin'  ?" 

"I  shall  take  immediate  steps  toward  enforcing 
my  command." 

If  Bart  Gerry  had  had  a  trifle  more  sense  he  would 
have  understood  that  this  man  who  spoke  so  quietly 
was  more  to  be  feared  than  a  blusterer,  and  might 
possibly  have  answered  less  intemperately. 

He  lacked  this  grain  of  wisdom,  however,  and 
said,  defiantly: 

"You  may  find  it  a  harder  job  than  you  count  on. 


LAYING   m   STORES.  261 

to  drive  us  away.  I  propose  to  hold  on  so  long  as 
pleases  me,  and  now  that  youVe  opened  the  subject, 
I  demand  two  things :  First,  that  you  explain  your 
business  here,  and,  secondly,  that  you  prevent  your 
men  from  following  mine,  as  they've  been  doin'  since 
mornin'." 

"And  if  I  refuse  to  comply  with  your  demands,  I 
presume  you  will  use  force." 

**That  I  certainly  shall,  an'  without  much  parley." 

"You  may  begin  whenever  it  seems  best.  My 
crew  outnumbers  yours  by  at  least  two  to  one,  and  I 
do  not  think  there  is  a  man  among  them  who  would 
be  unwilling  to  join  in  a  scrimmage.  It  is  my  inten- 
tion to  enter  this  place,  which  you  seem  to  be  guard- 
ing, and  if  force  is  to  be  employed,  now  is  the  proper 
time  to  make  a  show  of  it." 

"Don't  allow  anything  I've  said  to  prevent  you 
from  goin'  in  there,"  Bart  said,  with  mock  polite- 
ness, and  from  the  rustling  of  the  foliage  the  listen- 
ers understood  that  he  had  moved  a  short  distance 
from  the  entrance. 

Joe  had  no  desire  to  fire  upon  the  master  of  the 
brig  without  a  warning,  neither  did  he  intend  to  ad- 
mit him,  therefore  he  shouted : 

"Have  a  care,  captain !  The  first  man  who  ent-ers 
this*  passage  will  come  mighty  near  dying !  We  are 
on  guard  here  and  prepared  to  shoot." 


262    THE  TREASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

There  was  an  interval  of  silence,  during  which 
Winn  fancied  he  could  picture  to  himself  the  sur- 
prise written  upon  the  face  of  the  brig's  captain  at 
thus  suddenly  discovering  the  cavern  had  an  occu- 
pant. 

"Who  have  you  there?"  the  listeners  heard  the 
newcomer  ask,  and  Bart  replied,  with  a  short  laugh : 

''You  seem  to  be  in  a  fair  way  of  findin'  out  for 
yourself." 

A  moment  of  silence,  and  then  the  captain  shouted: 

"Ahoy  there!  who  is  waiting?" 

"Them  as  counts  on  stayin'  to  keep  others  out," 
Joe  replied.  "For  further  information  apply  to  Mr. 
Bart  Gerry,  who  can  tell  you  what  success  we've  had 
so  far  in  holding  our  own." 

"Is  that  one  of  your  men?"  the  sentinels  heard 
the  captain  ask. 

"He  was ;  but  he'll  belong  to  nobody  if  I  ever  get 
my  hands  on  him." 

"It  isn't  difficult  to  fancy  that  your  purpose  here 
was  known  to  your  crew,  and  some  of  them  have 
gotten  the  best  of  you." 

"It  won't  take  me  a  great  while  longer  to  show 
who  has  the  best  of  it,"  Bart  replied  with  a  roar,  and 
Joe,  thoroughly  enjoying  the  position  of  affairs, 
would  have  still  further  aided  in  the  conversation 
but  that  Winn  checked  him. 


LAYING   m   STORES.  263 

"If  you  leave  them  alone,  they  may  quarrel  among 
themselves,  and  there's  no  reason  why  you  should 
pitch  into  the  captain  of  the  brig  until  we  know  more 
about  him." 

''I  reckon  we  know  enough  already,  lad,"  Joe  re- 
plied; and  at  that  moment  they  were  joined  by 
Petro,  who  had  heard  the  sound  of  voices  and  came 
through  the  passage  to  learn  the  cause. 

'Trom  the  position  of  affairs,  I  fancy  I  can  under- 
stand what  you  are  trying  to  effect  here,"  Winn 
heard  the  captain  of  the  brig  say.  "It  doesn't  suit 
my  purpose  to  have  you  remain,  therefore  I  give  you 
warning  to  return  to  your  schooner  at  once.  The 
man  in  the  cave,  whom  I  presume  is  a  deserter,  shall 
be  put  on  board  your  vessel  to-morrow  morning, 
after  which  I  expect  you  to  weigh  anchor." 

It  seemed  to  the  listeners  as  if  Gerry  was  in  such  a 
rage  that  words  would  not  come  freely  at  his  com- 
mand, for  he  stammered  and  shrieked  several  sec- 
onds at  least  before  being  able  to  make  an  intelli- 
gible reply. 

"It  is  you  and  your  crew  who  shall  leave  this  isl- 
and! There's  no  need  of  mincin'  matters  now. 
You've  come,  hopin'  to  find  the  treasure.  We  were 
here  first,  an'  have  a  better  claim  upon  it.  What's 
more,  there's  no  need  to  waste  any  time  chinnin',  for 
we've  had  all  the  warning  needed,  an'  now  it's  my 


264    THE  TEEASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

turn  to  threaten.     Call  off  your  men  an'  leave  this 
island  within  an  hour." 

"My  men  may  be  as  ready  for  a  scrimmage  as 
yours,  and  we  will  see  which  crew  can  fight  the 
best." 

"How  did  you  know  that  the  Aymara  treasure, 
was  buried  here  ?" 

"I  might  be  willing  to  tell  you  for  the  sake  of  find- 
ing out  how  you  learned  about  it,  but  won't  go  into 
explanations  simply  because  you  demand  them. 
However,  this  much  you  may  know:  I  came  here 
with  full  authority  from  the  owners  of  the  hoard." 

"You  are  a  liar  1" 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  BATTLE. 

To  those  who  were  in  the  tunnel  it  seemed  as  if  no 
more  than  a  single  second  elapsed  from  the  time  Bar- 
tholomew Gerry  incautiously  applied  to  the  captain 
of  the  brig  such  an  epithet  as  every  honest  man  must 
resent,  before  they  heard  what  could  have  been  none 
other  than  the  sound  of  a  blow,  as  the  fist  of  one 
man  came  in  sudden  and  forcible  contact  with  the 
face  or  body  of  the  other. 

In  an  instant  there  was  such  a  medley  of  shouts, 
cries  of  anger  and  trampling  of  feet  that  it  was  pos- 
sible for  the  listeners  to  have  a  very  good  idea  of 
what  was  being  done. 

"They're  havin'  a  rough  an'  tumble  fight!"  Joe 
cried,  gleefully.  ''Bart  Gerry  has  been  so  long  in 
the  habit  of  callin'  men  liars,  without  havin'  run 
across  one  who  was  willin'  to  take  it  up,  that  he  must 
have  been  considerably  surprised  when  the  captain 
let  out  on  him  so  sudden.  'Cordin'  to  what  we  can 
hear,  I  wouldn't  wonder  if  the  mate  had  started  con- 
siderable of  a  row." 

Unconsciously  those  in  the  tunnel  moved  nearer 

265 


266    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

and  nearer  the  entrance  in  the  effort  to  hear  all  that 
might  be  said,  until  they  stood  fully  exposed  to  view, 
and  not  one  of  their  enemies  appeared  to  be  aware 
of  the  fact. 

Even  Petro  himself  advanced  several  paces  out- 
side the  entrance,  and  Winn  remained  close  by  his 
side. 

The  guardians  of  the  Aymara  treasure  had  good 
reason  to  feel  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  struggle 
which  was  going  on  before  their  eyes,  for  upon  the 
result  of  it  they  would  be  able  to  form  a  very  good 
idea  of  what  might  be  expected  to  happen  in  the 
future. 

There  was  no  reason  for  believing  that  the  captain 
of  the  brig  would  be  any  more  generous  an  enemy 
than  Bart  Gerry  had  shown  himself,  and  yet  it  is 
probable  each  of  the  spectators  hoped  the  strangers 
would  be  victorious. 

It  was  a  battle,  rather  than  a  rough  and  tumble 
fight,  as  Joe  had  suggested. 

The  crew  of  the  "Flying  Scud,"  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Bart  Gerry,  were  drawn  up  in  line  with  their 
backs  against  the  mound  or  elevation  which  marked 
the  entrance  to  the  cavern,  and  facing  them  in  some- 
thing resembling  soldier-like  array,  were  the  men 
from  the  brig. 

Each  of  the  schooner's  crew  had  more  than  one 


A   BATTLE.  267 

antagonist,  owing  to  the  disparity  of  numbers,  and 
it  was  not  difficult  to  foresee  the  result  of  the  en- 
counter. 

Bart  Gerry  alone  was  evenly  matched.  The  cap- 
tain, whom  he  had  insulted,  was  bent  on  punishing 
him  unaided,  and  therefore  it  was  that  he  presented 
a  better  appearance  than  did  his  men. 

'*If  Bart  was  out  of  the  way,  Fd  pitch  in  to  help 
our  crew,  for  it  seems  cowardly  to  remain  idle  when 
they  are  gettin'  the  worst  of  it,"  Joe  Savage  said  in 
a  tone  of  suppressed  excitement.  "As  matters 
stand,  our  old  mates  must  take  their  punishment  be- 
cause of  the  company  they're  in." 

Winn  had  not  removed  his  gaze  from  the  com- 
batants, yet  he  knew  rather  than  saw  that  Dave 
Carleton  had  abandoned  his  post  of  duty  in  order  to 
witness  the  encounter,  but  at  the  moment  this  act  did 
not  seem  to  him  as  anything  for  which  the  man 
should  be  censured. 

If  the  treasure-seekers  would  fight  among  them- 
selves, much  trouble  might  be  saved  those  who  con- 
sidered themselves  the  lawful  guardians  of  the  hid- 
den wealth. 

Less  than  ten  minutes  sufficed  for  the  brig's  cap- 
tain to  punish  Bartholomew  Gerry  severely. 

That  mate's  courage  had  oozed  away  after  two  or 
three  heavy  blows  were  delivered  full  upon  his  face. 


268    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

and  he  who  should  have  remained  to  animate  his 
men  was  the  first  to  seek  safety  in  flight. 

He  started  toward  the  shore  as  rapidly  as  his  legs 
would  carry  him,  and  a  few  seconds  later  his  crew 
followed. 

One  party  of  treasure-seekers  was  in  full  flight, 
closely  pursued  by  the  other,  and  the  spectators  be- 
lieved the  battle  was  ended ;  but  before  the  fugitives 
were  fully  hidden  by  the  foliage  Captain  Jim  and  one 
man  appeared  in  view. 

"He  heard  the  rumpus,  an'  has  come  to  lend  a 
hand,"  Dave  Carleton  said,  approvingly.  "Now  we 
shall  see  somethin'  different  in  the  way  of  fightin', 
for  Jim  Robinson  ain't  a  man  what'U  cry  baby,  no 
matter  how  big  odds  are  against  him." 

"If  he'd  come  five  minutes  ago  there  might  have 
been  some  show  for  the  schooner's  crew;  but  now 
it's  too  late,"  Joe  muttered.  "I'm  glad  that  bloomin' 
mate  got  a  heavy  dose,  but  mighty  sorry  to  see  our 
mates  downed  so  soon." 

The  presence  of  their  captain  served  to  give  the 
crew  of  the  "Flying  Scud"  renewed  courage,  and 
during  ten  minutes  more  they  held  the  strangers  at 
bay;  but  press  of  numbers  soon  told  against  them, 
and  step  by  step  Captain  Jim  was  forced  to  give  way. 

"Be  careful  not  to  go  too  far  from  the  cavern," 
Petro  cried  warningly  as  Joe  Savage  unconsciously 


A  BATTLE.  269 

followed  the  combatants,  and  was  in  turn  followed 
by  his  comrades. 

There  was  little  fear  they  would  be  in  any  danger 
from  their  enemies,  for  both  parties  were  so  deeply 
engaged  with  each  other  as  to  give  no  heed  to  any- 
thing else. 

Even  if  the  little  group  of  spectators  was  ob- 
served, no  evidence  had  been  given  of  such  fact,  and 
while  the  schooner's  crew  was  so  hotly  pressed  they 
would  not  be  able  to  work  mischief  on  those  whom 
they  wished  to  capture. 

Petro's  warning  was  sufficient,  however,  to  recall 
Joe  Savage  to  a  realization  of  what  part  he  and  his 
comrades  were  taking  in  the  struggle,  and  he  said 
sharply : 

''Keep  close  together,  boys.  Although  I  don't 
think  there's  any  chance  those  fellows  will  trouble 
us,  we  must  be  prepared,  if  we  count  on  seein'  the 
end  of  the  scrimmage." 

Winn  remained  close  by  Joe's  side,  and  all  four 
halted  a  hundred  yards  or  more  from  the  line  of  surf, 
where  they  had  a  good  view  of  the  finish. 

The  crew  of  the  "Flying  Scud"  had  long  since 
ceased  to  act  on  the  offensive,  and  had  quite  as  much 
as  they  could  do  to  defend  themselves  while  pushing 
off  in  the  boats.  ; 

At  one  time  four  sailors  were  standing  knee-deep 


270    THE  TREASURE  OP  COCOS  ISLAND. 

in  the  water  fighting  bravely,  but  the  end  was  not 
prolonged. 

Captain  Jim  succeeded  in  taking  all  his  men  off, 
although  every  member  of  the  crew  had  been  pun- 
ished more  or  less  severely,  while  the  representatives 
of  the  brig  appeared  fit  to  begin  another  battle  with- 
out loss  of  time.  -^ 

A  loud  shout  of  triumph  went  up  from  the  victors 
as  the  last  fugitive  was  taken  aboard,  and  then  half 
a  dozen  pistol-shots  were  fired  by  Captain  Jim's 
party ;  but,  so  far  as  Winn  could  see,  none  of  the  bul- 
lets took  effect. 

"I  don't  understand  why  they  didn't  begin  shoot- 
ing before,"  he  said  to  Joe. 

'*A  fight  with  bare  fists  ain't  any  very  serious  mat- 
ter, if  the  law  looks  into  the  business ;  but  when  men 
try  to  kill  each  other  outright  it's  apt  to  make  a  deal 
of  trouble,  an'  I  reckon  neither  captain  was  willin'  to 
take  the  chance.  But  we  musn't  hang  'round  here 
any  longer.  The  brig's  crew  are  ripe  for  mischief, 
an'  if  they  get  a  sight  of  us  we  may  have  more  of 
this  scrimmage  than  is  good  for  us.     Come  on." 

With  a  firm  grip  on  Winn's  hand,  Joe  turned  and 
ran  at  full  speed  toward  the  entrance  of  the  cavern, 
where  Petro  was  awaiting  them.  He  did  not  so 
much-  as  give  a  single  backward  glance  to  ascertain 
if  Bartlett  and  Carleton  were  following. 


A  BATTLE.  271 

These  two  men  showed  that  they  were  sincere  in 
the  promises  made  to  the  guardians  of  the  treasure, 
for  instead  of  attracting  the  attention  of  their  for- 
mer comrades,  as  might  readily  have  been  done,  and 
thus  effected  their  escape  with  but  Uttle  difficulty, 
they  followed  close  at  Joe's  heels. 

Petro  was  standing  near  the  clump  of  thorn 
bushes  when  his  comrades  returned,  but  he  did  not 
appear  to  think  it  necessary  to  inquire  how  the  battle 
had  ended. 

"Have  all  the  men  left  the  island?"  he  asked,  and 
Joe  explained  that  the  brig's  crew  yet  remained. 

*'Then  it  is  necessary  we  stand  guard  as  before. 
Now  that  they  have  no  one  to  interfere  with  them, 
the  captain  will  attempt  to  learn  the  secret  of  this 
place.  We  have  more  to  fear  from  him  than  from 
those  who  have  been  beaten." 

"I'll  go  bail  we  shan't  see  one  of  the  Tlying 
Scud's'  crew  again  till  they've  had  a  chance  to  repair 
damages,"  Joe  replied  with  a  cheery  laugh. 

"The  mate  will  not  remain  idle,  even  though  he 
has  had  the  worst  of  the  encounter,"  Petro  replied, 
gravely.  "If  he  can  incite  his  men  to  the  act,  there 
will  be  bloody  work  before  twenty-four  hours  have 
passed." 

Joe  shook  his  head  as  if  to  say  he  did  not  believe 
even  Bart  Gerry  would  dare  to  go  to  such  lengths. 


272    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

but  Winn  understood  that  Dave  Carleton  fully 
shared  Petro's  opinion. 

*'We've  got  the  right  to  expect  a  hot  time  from 
now  out,  for  this  'ere  captain  will  do  more  in  an  hour 
than  Bart  Gerry  could  in  a  day.  'Cordin'  to  what 
I've  seen  of  him,  he  don't  spend  much  time  yarnin', 
but  pushes  straight  ahead,  an'  it  stands  to  reason  he's 
bound  to  know  why  we're  holdin'  the  fort  in  here." 

Bartlett  expressed  the  opinion  that  there  was  noth- 
ing more  to  be  feared  from  those  on  board  the  "Fly^ 
ing  Scud,"  at  least,  until  the  brig  had  left  the  cove, 
and  in  this  Joe  agreed  with  him. 

Even  though  all  were  not  of  the  same  mind  re- 
garding what  might  be  done  by  their  enemies,  every 
member  of  the  party  believed  that  the  utmost  vigil- 
ance was  necessary,  and  in  a  few  moments  after  re- 
turning from  the  battle-field  the  guardians  of  the 
treasure  were  in  a  position  to  protect  themselves  and 
their  rights. 

Joe  involuntarily  went  to  the  seaward  end  of  the 
tunnel  to  stand  guard;  Petro  remained  at  the  oppo- 
site entrance,  while  Winn  set  about  preparing  sup- 
per, for  night  was  near  at  hand. 

"It  stands  us  in  hand  to  keep  mighty  sharp  watch 
every  hour  of  the  twenty-four,"  Dave  Carleton  said, 
as  he  lazily  threw  himself  down  on  the  sand  where 
he  could  observe  the  movements  of  the  cook,  "an'  it 


A   BATTLE.  273 

ain't  goin'  to  be  pleasant  work,  for  it's  a  case  of  ex- 
pectin'  a  pistol-shot  at  any  minute." 

Bartlett  nodded  his  head  gravely  as  he  replied : 

"At  the  same  time  I  allow  we're  better  off  here 
than  we  would  be  on  board  the  schooner.  The  mate 
must  be  mighty  lively  by  this  time." 

"He's  like  a  bear  with  a  sore  head,  an'  all  hands 
will  be  kept  jumpin',  unless  he's  used  up  so  bad  that 
he  can't  come  on  deck." 

"I  don't  reckon  he  stayed  long  enough  for  that. 
When  the  brig's  captain  got  in  three  or  four  good 
clips,  his  spirit  was  broken,  an'  from  that  minute  he 
only  figgered  how  he  could  best  get  out  of  the 
scrape.  I'll  warrant  he's  in  better  shape  than  any 
other  man  aboard." 

"Right  you  are,  my  hearty,  an' " 

The  conversation  was  interrupted  at  this  point,  as 
from  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel,  where  Petro  was  sta- 
tioned, could  be  heard  the  hail : 

"Ahoy  inside!" 

The  old  man  hesitated  to  reply,  and  the  hail  was 
repeated. 

Winn,  Bartlett  and  Dave  were  half-way  up  the 
tunnel  when  the  sentinel  finally  cried : 

"Ahoy!     What's  wanted?" 

"I've  come  to  find  out  why  you're  skulking  in 
there.     If  it  so  be  you're  hidin'  from  the  officers  of 


274:    THE  -tEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

the  schooner,  you'll  have  a  free  foot  now,  for  I'm  of 
the  opinion  they  won't  venture  ashore  very  soon 
again." 

''We  came  in  here  to  protect  ourselves  from  them, 
but  yet  are  not  of  the  mind  to  trust  ourselves  with 
you." 

"Why  are  you  afraid  ?" 

"I  did  not  say  we  were.  It  is  our  desire  to  be  left 
to  ourselves ;  therefore  we  do  not  give  provocation  to 
any  man,  but  ask,  as  is  right,  that  we  be  left  alone." 

"Do  you  know  anything  about  the  treasure  which 
is  buried  here  ?" 

'^'We  have  heard  what  our  captain  believed  he 
knew." 

"Did  he  find  anything?'^ 

"Not  to  our  knowledge." 

"He  has  done  considerable  digging." 

"But  found  nothing." 

"Why  did  you  leave  him  ?" 

Petro  hesitated,  and  understanding  that  the  old 
man  was  unwilling  to  tell  an  absolute  falsehood, 
Dave  took  up  the  conversation. 

"We  deserted  because  we  hadn't  shipped  for  sich  a 
voyage  as  this  turned  out  to  be,  an'  didn't  allow  to 
hang  'round  here  while  he  searched  over  every  foot 
of  the  island,  as  the  mate  said  would  be  done." 

"Yet  you  are  not  so  well  off  here  as  you  would  be 


A  BATTLE.  375 

on  the  schooner,  and  will  be  forced  to  remain  as  long 
as  your  vessel  does." 

''We  don't  have  to  use  the  pick  and  shovel  all 
the  blessed  day." 

"What  objection  have  you  to  my  coming  inside?" 

Dave  was  at  a  loss  for  the  wisest  reply,  and  Petro 
again  acted  as  spokesman : 

"So  long  as  you  are  outside  and  we  inside,  there 
is  no  great  danger  of  our  being  worsted.  We  choose 
to  hold  the  advantage." 

This  seemed  to  puzzle  the  captain,  for  the  listeners 
heard  him  mutter  as  if  to  a  companion : 

"That  fellow  is  a  regular  sea-lawyer,  and  most 
likely  has  put  his  mates  up  to  deserting." 

"We  should  be  the  last  to  grumble  because  of 
what  he  has  done,  for  the  fight  might  have  had  a  dif- 
ferent ending  if  the  schooner's  crew  had  been 
larger." 

"Tm  not  grumbling,  but  don't  intend  these  fel- 
lows shall  keep  me  at  arm's  length  in  this  fashion. 
If  they  had  deserted  from  their  vessel  simply  be- 
cause of  a  desire  to  shirk  work,  they  would  not  hesi- 
tate to  let  us  in.  There  is  something  here  that  we 
ought  to  know." 

Then  those  on  the  outside  spoke  in  a  tone  so  low 
that  the  remainder  of  the  conversation  could  not  be 
overheard  by  the  little  party  in  the  tunnel,  and  five 


.276    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

minutes  elapsed  before  the  captain  had  anything 
more  to  say  to  the  deserters. 

"Look  here,  my  men,"  he  began,  "I  don't  make  any 
claim  to  command  you,  nor  will  I  waste  time  by  ex- 
plaining that  you're  liable  to  arrest  in  case  you 
should  fall  in  with  the  officers  of  the  schooner  in  a 
foreign  port.  ,My  business  is  much  the  same  as 
your  captain's,  with  this  exception:  I've  got  legal 
authority  to  take  away  the  treasure,  and  he  hasn't. 
I  am  come  on  a  peaceful  voyage,  although  ready  to 
fight  for  my  rights  rather  than  not  have  them  to  the 
letter.  I  have  no  desire  to  work  you  harm,  but  must 
see  what  you  have  in  there.  Allow  me  to  enter 
alone,  and  if  there  is  nothing  inside  but  your  pro- 
visions or  luggage,  I'll  go  away  at  once,  promising 
never  to  molest  you  in  the  possession  of  the  place." 

Winn  expected  Petro  would  agree  to  this  proposi- 
tion without  hesitation. 

So  far  as  outward  appearances  went  there  was 
nothing  in  the  cave  other  than  what  men  in  their 
professed  situation  would  naturally  gather,  and  it 
seemed  to  the  boy  that  they  would  be  the  gainers  by 
granting  the  captain's  request. 

There  appeared  to  be,  so  he  argued  in  his  mind, 
little  possibility  the  visitor  would  suspect  treasure 
was  hidden  in  the  cavern,  for  there  were  no  signs 
betokening  that  the  sand  which  formed  the  floor  had 


A   BATTLE.  27"? 

ever  been  disturbed,  therefore  no  harm  could  come 
from  an  inspection. 

Carleton  and  Bartlett,  who  were  ignorant  that  the 
wealth  of  the  Aymaras  was  beneath  their  feet,  also 
expected  to  hear  the  desired  permission  given,  and 
the  surprise  of  all  three  was  great  when  Petro  re- 
plied emphatically : 

"Men  do  not  give  an  enemy  the  opportunity  to  ex- 
amine a  stronghold,  and  for  that  very  reason  we 
refuse." 

"But  I  am  not  an  enemy.  On  the  contrary,  I  will 
defend  you  against  your  own  captain,  if  you  have 
just  and  sufficient  cause  for  desertion." 

"There  is  no  reason  why  the  case  should  be  sub- 
mitted to  you.  We  are  able  to  hold  our  position 
here,  and  intend  to  do  it." 

"Look  here,  my  man,"  and  from  the  tone  of  his 
voice  it  was  evident  that  the  captain  was  losing  his 
temper ;  "I  have  asked  no  more  than  is  my  right,  and 
by  a  refusal  you  cause  me  to  suspect  that  matters 
with  you  are  not  as  you  would  have  me  believe." 

"The  commander  of  the  schooner  is  the  only  one 
who  has  even  the  semblance  of  authority  to  question 
our  acts,  and  we  even  go  so  far  as  to  claim  that  he 
shall  not  interfere  with  us;  therefore  it  is  hardly  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  we  will  put  our  faith  in  stran- 
gers."' 


278    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"Since  you  refuse  to  show  that  you  have  no  part 
of  the  treasure  I  have  been  sent  here  to  reclaim,  I 
intend  to  make  the  visit  by  force,  and  if  any  one  is 
used  roughly,  the  fault  will  be  on  your  heads. 
Come  in  there  I  shall,  even  though  I  spend  a  month 
in  doing  so." 

Petro  did  not  reply  to  this  outburst,  and  after  a 
brief  pause  the  captain  of  the  brig  added : 

''You  have  fair  warning  of  my  intentions,  and  this 
is  the  last  parley  I  will  hold  with  such  mutinous, 
scoundrels.  The  next  time  I  shall  force  my  way  in- 
side." 

"Remember  that  we  are  ready  to  shoot  down  the 
first  who  shows  himself  at  the  entrance,  after  which 
nothing  more  need  be  said."  \ 

The  rustling  of  the  foliage  told  that  the  captain 
had  moved  away,  and  Dave  Carleton  said  decidedly : 

"I  reckon  he  means  what  he  says,  an'  it  stands  us 
in  hand  to  keep  both  eyes  open.  There's  a  good  bit 
of  difference  'twixt  him  an'  our  bloomin'  mate." 

"It  will  be  more  difficult  to  keep  him  out  than  it 
was  to  prevent  the  mate's  crew  from  entering. 
Winn,  you  had  better  tell  Joe  Savage  what  has  taken 
place.  If  he  heard  the  voices  he'll  be  eager  to  learn 
what  has  been  said  and  by  whom." 

Winn  started  at  once  to  obey  this  suggestion, 
which   was  little  less  than  a  command,  and  Dave 


A   BATTLE.  279 

Carleton  accompanied  him,  saying  as  they  walked 
through  the  tunnel : 

"Joe  may  want  to  have  a  chin  with  Petro,  an*  I*d 
best  go  with  you  to  take  his  place." 

The  sailor  had  been  made  decidedly  anxious  be- 
cause of  the  loud  conversation,  which  he  could  hear 
only  as  a  distant  hum,  and  when  Winn  repeated  to 
the  best  of  his  ability  all  that  had  been  said,  he  asked 
in  perplexity : 

"Why  didn't  Petro  let  the  captain  look  at  the  cave, 
if  that  was  all  he  wanted  ?" 

"That's  what  puzzles  me,"  Dave  replied.  "It 
seemed  as  if  it  would  be  the  easiest  way  out,  for 
there's  no  reason  why  the  crew  of  the  brig  should 
interfere  with  us — at  least,  they  don't  know  of 
any." 

"The  old  man  is  mighty  careful,  an'  perhaps  what 
he's  done  is  for  the  best,  so  we  won't  grumble  over 
it,"  Joe  said,  after  some  reflection.  "We  know  to  a 
ty-ty  that  Petro  means  square  by  us,  an'  his  head  is 
longer  than  all  of  ours  put  together." 

Dave  would  have  dismissed  the  question  but  that 
Joe  asked  him  to  stand  guard  at  that  end  of  the  tun- 
nel,  and  motioned  for  Winn  to  follow  him. 

"I  reckon  Petro  didn't  dare  to  let  that  skipper  into 
thie  cave  for  fear  he'd  suspect  where  the  gold  was 
buried,"  the  sailor  said  when  he  and  the  boy  were  so 


280    THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

far  up  the  passage  that  there  was  no  chance  Dave 
could  overhear  the  conversation. 

"It  isn't  Hkely  he'd  think  it  any  more  than  Cap- 
tain Jim  did/' 

"There's  no  telhn'  what  might  happen  if  a  keen- 
eyed  man  was  to  look  around  our  hiding-place. 
He'd  say  to  himself,  says  he,  'What's  these  'ere 
bloomin'  sailors  doin'  underground  when  they  can 
go  outside,  where  it's  pleasant  ?'  An'  then  he  might 
come  precious  nigh  to  guessin'  the  truth.  But  even 
if  there  wasn't  any  fear  of  that,  I'd  say  Petro  was 
right." 

"Why?" 

"Because  so  far  he  always  has  been,  an'  a  man 
with  the  nerve  to  do  what  he  did  in  order  to  get  on 
this  'ere  island,  can't  go  very  far  wrong  whatever  he 
may  do." 

When  the  two  arrived  at  the  tunnel  leading  from 
the  landward  side  of  the  cave  they  found  Petro  on 
the  alert,  weapon  in  hand,  listening  for  the  slightest 
sound  which  should  tell  of  the  enemy's  coming. 

By  his  side  crouched  Bartlett  in  much  the  same  at- 
titude, and  Joe  asked  in  a  whisper : 

"What's  up  ?  You  two  look  as  if  you'd  good  rea- 
son for  expectin'  trouble  in  mighty  quick  time." 

Instead  of  replying,  Petro  motioned  for  the  new- 
comers to  remain  silent,  and  during  five  minutes  or 


A   BATTLE.  281 

more  Winn  listened  more  intently  than  perhaps  he 
had  ever  done  before;  all  that  time  not  so  much  as 
the  rustling  of  a  leaf  could  be  heard. 

Joe  began  to  speak  again,  but  Bartlett  checked 
him  with  an  angry  gesture,  and  at  the  same  instant 
Winn  heard  that  which  caused  the  blood  to  bound  in 
his  veins. 

It  was  a  sharp  clicking  noise  as  if  metal  had  fallen 
upon  rock,  and  he  understood  that  the  enemy  were 
creeping  upon  them. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  ATTACK. 

WiNN''s  comrades  also  heard  the  ominous  sound 
which  had  attracted  his  attention,  and  therefore  were 
in  a  certain  degree  prepared  for  what  followed. 

It  was  the  method  of  attack  which  took  them  by 
surprise. 

''They  are  gettin'  ready  to  make  a  rush,  an'  count 
on  bein'  able  to  shoot  us  down  at  the  first  volley," 
Joe  whispered  to  Petro,  and  the  latter  nodded  his 
head  in  token  that  he  was  of  the  same  opinion. 

An  instant  later  he  crouched  upon  his  knees,  mo- 
tioning for  the  others  to  follow  his  example,  and 
with  every  weapon  in  readiness  the  little  party 
awaited  the  assault. 

It  came,  but  not  in  the  same  fashion  as  had  been 
anticipated. 

Suddenly,  and  while  the  enemy  yet  remained  hid- 
den from  view,  a  volley  of  reports  rang  out,  and  bul- 
lets struck  both  sides  of  the  tunnel  at  the  same  mo- 
ment. 

Those  on  the  outside  had  divided  into  two  parties, 
one  of. which  discharged  their  weapons  from  the 

282 


THE  ATTACK.  283 

right  and  the  other  from  the  left,  in  such  a  manner 
that  there  was  a  cross-fire  from  the  very  edge  of  the 
tunnel  on  either  side  to  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  six- 
teen feet  into  the  passage. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  defenders  of  the  cavern 
were  upon  their  knees,  none  of  the  bullets  took  effect, 
and  the  old  man  said  in  a  low  tone  as  soon  as  the 
echoes  had  died  away  sufficiently  for  his  voice  to  be 
heard : 

'The  next  time  that  game  is  tried  I  believe  they 
will  attempt  to  rush  in  under  cover  of  the  smoke. 
We'll  draw  back  a  dozen  paces,  out  of  range  of  the 
bullets,  and  there  remain  standing  ready  to  resist  the 
assault  which  I  am  convinced  must  soon  come. 
Winn,  go  and  tell  Carleton  he  is  to  remain  at  his 
post  at  all  hazards,  and  if  the  enemy  shows  himself 
there,  let  him  discharge  two  chambers  of  his  revolver 
as  a  signal." 

The  boy  obeyed  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  found 
the  sailor  half  way  up  the  tunnel,  instead  of  at  the 
entrance  where  he  should  have  been. 

Winn  repeated  Petro's  words,  and  Dave  said  in  a 
tone  of  irritation : 

"There's  little  fear  they  will  find  this  entrance,  an' 
I  can  be  of  more  service  there  than  here." 

"Petro  seems  to  believe  different,  and  it  would  be 
folly  for  us  to  leave  this  end  unguarded.      If  the 


284    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

enemy  should  discover  it,  and  no  sentinel  remained 
here,  we'd  soon  be  worsted." 

*'You  take  my  place  an'  let  me  go  where  there  is  a 
chance  something  will  be  done,"  Dave  Carleton  said, 
eagerly. 

Winn  hesitated,  and  the  sailor  was  on  the  point 
of  running  forward,  when  the  boy  said  quickly : 

"We  are  a  pretty  poor  lot  if  we  can't  obey  orders, 
an'  your  post  is  here.  I'll  tell  Petro  what  you  say, 
an',  if  he's  willing,  come  back  to  relieve  you." 

Then,  as  if  fearing  Dave  might  persist  in  doing  as 
he  desired,  Winn  ran  rapidly  back,  arriving  at  the 
landward  side  of  the  cavern  just  as  a  second  volley 
was  fired  from  the  outside. 

Now  it  was  shown  that  Petro's  supposition  re- 
garding the  methods  to  be  employed  by  the  enemy 
was  correct,  for  in  an  instant  after  the  reports  rang 
out  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  appeared  to  be  literally 
choke'd  by  a  body  of  men,  and  a  dozen  bullets  or 
more  came  hurtling  straight  through  the  passage. 

Winn  stood  where  he  could  not  discharge  his 
weapon  without  fear  of  hitting  his  comrades,  and  he 
was  the  only  one  whose  revolver  was  not  emptied 
into  that  oncoming  mass. 

Several  sharp  cries  of  pain  were  heard.  The  dis- 
charge of  the  weapons  continued  until  it  became  a 
regular  fusilade,  and  the  only  wonder  was  that  every 


THE  ATTACK.  285 

man  within  that  narrow  passage  had  not  been 
wounded  or  killed. 

The  enemy  were  checked,  however,  thanks  to  the 
spirited  resistance,  and  before  the  smoke  cleared 
away  sufficiently  for  the  besieged  to  have  a  full  view 
of  the  tunnel,  not  one  of  the  brig's  crew  could  be 
seen. 

*'Has  anybody  been  hurt  ?"  Joe  Savage  asked  anx- 
iously when  it  was  known  that  the  enemy  no  longer 
opposed  them. 

''I'm  all  right,"  Bartlett  replied,  as  if  surprised 
that  such  was  the  case. 

"I  was  so  far  back  that  some  of  you  must  have 
stopped  the  bullets  before  they  could  reach  me," 
Winn  added. 

Petro  remained  silent,  and  going  up  to  him 
quickly,  Joe  asked : 

''Are  you  hurt,  old  man  ?" 

"Nothing  to  speak  of.  A  bullet  grazed  my  rib,  I 
believe." 

"Come  back  here  an'  let  me  see  what  has  been 
done." 

"It  is  nothing,"  Petro  replied,  carelessly,  and 
Winn  noted  with  alarm  the  fact  that  he  pressed  his 
hand  closely  against  his  side. 

"It's  bad  enough  to  start  the  blood  flowing  in 
quite  a  stream,"  Joe  said  sharply  as  he  literally 


2S6    THE  TBEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAXD. 

forced  the  old  man  back  into  the  cavern  and  with 
Winn's  aid  began  pulling  away  the  clothing  from  the 
wound- 

Petro  protested  that  it  was  *only  a  scratch,"  until 
the  wound  had  been  exposed  to  view,  and  then  it  was 
seen  that  the  bullet  had  penetrated  his  side — still  re- 
mained there. 

"This  seems  like  to  be  dangerous,"  Joe  said  with 
an  air  of  solicitude  as  he  gently  pressed  the  flesh  here 
and  there  to  ascertain  the  location  of  the  ball. 

"It  will  amount  to  nothing,"  Petro  insisted,  "and 
while  you  waste  your  time  on  me  the  enemy  may 
make  another  rush.  Get  back  into  the  passage;  I 
will  att«id  to  myself." 

"I  reckon  they've  got  a  dose  thatll  keep  *em  quiet 
for  a  spell,"  Joe  replied  indifferently,  "an'  I  don't 
count  on  leavin'  you  till  I  know  more  about  this  'ere 
wound-  Winn,  stand  alongside  Bartlett  an'  keep 
your  eyes  open.  I  can  get  back  there  in  time  to  be 
of  se^v^ce  after  the  first  shot  is  fired." 

Petro  made  no  further  remonstrance,  probably  be- 
cause he  realized  how  useless  it  would  be,  but  sub- 
mitted patiently  to  Joe's  rude  attempts  at  surgery. 

Winn  joined  Bartlett,  and  the  two  stood  half  way 
between  the  cavern  and  the  outer  entrance  to  the  tun- 
nel, with  revolvers  in  hand,  prepared  for  and  expect- 
ing a  third  attack. 


THE  ATTACK.  287 

"Has  the  old  man  got  much  of  a  hurt?"  the  sailor 
asked,  and  Winn  replied  in  tremulous  tones : 

VJoe  is  trying  to  find  out.  It  would  be  terrible  if 
anything  should  happen  to  Petro." 

"When  we  started  in  on  this  kind  of  business  a 
man  took  his  chances  of  something  such  as  has  come 
to  him,  but  it  would  be  mighty  tough  if  either  of  us 
four  should  be  knocked  out  of  time  just  now  when 
we're  like  to  have  our  hands  full  of  fightin'." 

Bartlett's  words  did  not  tend  to  make  Winn  feel 
any  more  comfortable  in  mind.  The  sailor  spoke 
much  as  if  he  anticipated  the  worst,  and  for  the  time 
it  was  to  the  boy  as  if  this  old  friend  of  Manuel  Tel- 
ceda's  had  received  his  death-wound. 

Then,  much  to  the  relief  of  both  sentinels,-  Petro 
walked  slowly  into  the  passage,  as  though  returning 
to  duty,  and  Winn  breathed  more  freely  when  he 
noted  the  fact  that  the  old  man  advanced  unaided. 

"Are  you  feelin'  better  ?"  he  asked,  eagerly. 

"I  shall  be  better  soon,"  was  the  evasive  reply. 
"The  wound  was  more  painful  than  dangerous,  I 
fancy ;  but  Joe  Savage  is  a  good  surgeon.  Have  you 
heard  anything  from  the  outside?" 

"Not  so  much  as  a  whisper,"  Bartlett  replied.  "I 
reckon  they  got  a  full  dose  that  time." 

"It  isn't  safe  to  believe  so.  I  can't  think  the  cap- 
tain of  the  brig  will  be  disheartened  by  one  failure." 


288    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"I  reckon  not ;  but  he's  got  what'U  last  him  for  a 
spell,  anyhow,  an'  unless  Fm  way  out  of  my  reck- 
onin',  you  won't  be  called  upon  to  do  anything 
more'n  stand  watch  until  to-morrow.  Then  some 
new  game  will  be  tried." 

It  surely  seemed  as  if  Bartlett  was  correct  in  this 
supposition. 

Night  was  rapidly  approaching. 

The  captain  of  the  brig  had  been  tempted  to  make 
the  assault  only  because  of  his  suspicions  regarding 
the  actions  of  the  men — not  from  any  positive  opin- 
ion that  the  treasure  was  hidden  in  the  cave,  and  it 
seemed  probable  he  would  think  twice  before  repeat- 
ing the  attempt. 

The  first  attack  had  unquestionably  resulted  in  the 
disabling  of  several  of  his  crew,  and  he  could  not 
well  afford  to  weaken  the  force  further  while  the^ 
"Flying  Scud"  was  in  the  cove,  for  Captain  Jim 
would  not  be  slow  to  take  advantage  of  his  oppor- 
tunity should  the  brig's  crew  be  so  reduced  in  num- 
bers as  to  make  the  odds  more  nearly  equal. 

During  half  an  hour  or  more  Petro,  Bartlett  and 
Winn  remained  on  guard  at  this  entrance  to  the  tun- 
nel without  hearing  or  seeing  anything  to  cause 
alarm. 

Joe  had  gone  to  visit  Dave  Carleton  immediately 
after  dressing  the  old  man's  wounds,  and  was  not  yet 


THE  ATTACK.  289 

returned  when  night  shrouded  the  entrance  to  the 
cavern  in  darkness. 

Now  Winn  was  reminded  that  his  duties  as  cook 
yet  remained  to  be  performed,  and  after  acquainting 
Garcia  with  his  intentions,  he  set  about  the  work  of 
preparing  supper. 

While  thus  engaged,  Joe  Savage  came  into  the 
cavern  and  asked  sharply  as  he  approached  the  boy : 

''Is  Petro  on  guard?" 

"He's  in  the  tunnel  with  Bartlett." 

"Has  he  complained  of  his  wound?" 

"I  notice  that  he  holds  his  hand  over  it.  Do  you 
think  it  severe  ?" 

Joe  evidently  wished  to  avoid  the  subject,  for  in- 
stead of  replying,  he  asked  how  soon  the  meal  would 
be  ready ;  but  Winn  pressed  him  for  an  answer  until 
he  finally  said  solemnly : 

"I  believe,  lad,  that  the  old  man  has  got  what  he 
won't  recover  from." 

"Do  you  mean  that  there  is  danger  of  his  dying?" 
Winn  asked  in  alarm. 

"Now  don't  get  excited,  lad.  It  would  have  been 
better,  perhaps,  for  me  not  to  have  said  anything; 
but  if  I'd  held  my  tongue  you  might  have  believed 
the  case  to  be  worse  than  it  really  is.  I'm  not  sayin* 
I  think  he's  like  to  die  right  away,  but  yet  it  wouldn't 
surprise  me  if  death  should  come  at  any  minute.     I 


290    THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAJ^D. 

couldn't  find  the  bullet,  an'  so  long  as  it  is  inside  of 
him  there's  danger.  Howsomever,  we  won't  cross 
the  bridge  till  we  come  to  it." 

*'But  suppose  Petro  should  die  while  we  are  so 
hard  pressed,"  Winn  persisted  in  a  tearful  tone. 

"It  would  weaken  our  force  fully  one-half,  for 
that  old  man  has  got  a  mighty  long  head  on  his 
shoulders ;  but  even  then  we  shouMn't  be  beaten,  be- 
cause it's  only  a  question  of  time  when  both  the  brig 
and  the  schooner  have  got  to  put  to  sea  without  the 
treasure." 

"They  might  find  it  by  gaining  possession  of  this 
cave." 

"I  don't  allow  they'll  do  that  this  year,  at  all 
events.  See  here,  my  lad,  if  you  go  to  borrowin' 
trouble,  things  will  appear  mighty  hard.  It's  only 
by  lookin'  on  the  bright  side  that  we  can  better  our 
condition.  Trouble  ain't  warded  ofif  by  worryin'. 
On  the  contrary,  it's  made  to  seem  a  good  deal  big- 
ger. So  keep  up  a  stout  heart,  an'  you'll  live  to 
think  of  this  'ere  time  as  something  that  wasn't  so 
very  serious  after  all." 

"That  day  can  never  come,"  Winn  replied, 
gravely.  "No  one  could  be  in  a  more  dangerous 
situation  than  we  are." 

"That's  where  you  are  makin'  a  mistake,  my  lad, 
as  you'll  live  to  find  out."     And  as  the  best  method 


THE  ATTACK.  291 

of  putting  an  end  to  this  unprofitable  conversation, 
Joe  left  the  cavern  to"  visit  the  sentinels  in  the  tunnel. 

When  the  cook  announced  that  supper  was  ready 
Petro  and  Bartlett  came  into  the  cavern,  the  former 
immediately  lying  down  near  the  fire  and  pretending- 
to  eat ;  but  Winn  noticed  that  he  took  up  fragments 
of  the  food  only  now  and  then,  masticated  it  slowly, 
as  if  it  was  distasteful  to  him,  and  appeared  to  have 
great  difficulty  in  swallowing  even  the  smallest 
morsel. 

The  sentinels  were  served  with  supper  at  their 
posts  of  duty,  and  then,  at  Joe  Savage's  suggestion, 
the  boy  was  put  on  guard  in  the  eastward  tunnel,  in 
order  that  the  men  miglit  gain  some  rest  before  dan- 
ger was  to  be  apprehended,  for  the  general  impres' 
sion  of  all  seemed  to  be  that  between  midnight  and 
sunrise  would  prove  the  most  perilous  time. 

It  was  a  lonely  vigil  which  Winn  kept  during  the 
four  hours,  and  made  particularly  so  by  the  sorrow- 
ful thoughts  which  would  persist  in  forcing  them- 
selves upon  his  mind. 

The  night  air  was  so  sultry  as  to  be  oppressive, 
and  more  than  once  did  the  boy  feel  forced  to  lean 
forward  outside  the  entrance  in  order  to  breathe 
freely. 

There  was  a  strange  color  in  the  sky;  although 
the  moon  was  obscured,  it  seemed  as  if  the  clouds 


292    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

gave  off  a  certain  dull  glow,  while  a  moaning  wavS 
heard  in  the  air,  even  when  one  could  not  feel  any 
wind. 

At  about  eleven  o'clock  Joe  Savage  came  to  re- 
lieve Winn,  and  the  boy's  first  question  was  concern- 
ing Petro. 

''He's  been  sleeping  for  two  hours  or  more,  and  I 
allow  so  long  as  he  can  get  rest  it's  the  best  thing 
for  him,  so  we're  shiftin'  watches  as  quietly  as  pos- 
sible. Hello,  what's  going  on?"  and  Joe  stepped 
nearer  the  entrance  as  he  gazed  alternately  at  the  sky 
and  the  inky  waters. 

"It's  the  hottest  night  I  ever  knew." 

'There's  something  more  than  heat  here."  And 
the  old  sailor  sniffed  as  he  perceived  a  distinct  odor 
in  the  hot  air.  "I  reckon,  lad,  it's  a  case  of  both  ves- 
sels getting  under  way  this  night." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Joe?" 

"If  I  was  the  skipper  of  a  craft,  at  anchor  off 
Cocos  Island  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  I'd  say  to  myself 
there  was  a  typhoon  breaking,  and  would  take  pre- 
cious good  care  I  had  plenty  of  water  under  my 
keel." 

"But  you  once  told  me  such  storms  came  up 
slowly." 

"We've  got  no  means  of  saying  how  long  this  has 
been  going  on,  lad,  for  since  morning  we've  had 


THE  ATTACK.  293 

other  things  to  take  up  our  attention.  It  may  be  Fm 
wrong,  but  I  wouldn't  be  afraid  to  bet  a  full  half  of 
all  I'll  get  out  of  the  Aymara  treasure  that  there'll  be 
such  a  breeze  spring  up  'twixt  now  an'  daylight  as 
you  never  saw  before." 

"I  only  hope  you  are  right,"  Winn  replied  with  a 
long-drawn  sigh  as  there  came  to  his  mind  the 
thought  that  if  they  could  be  left  alone  just  now  it 
might  be  possible  to  minister  to  Petro's  wounds  with 
better  effect  than  while  they  were  forced  to  remain 
constantly  on  the  alert  against  an  attack. 

''Hold  on  a  minute,  and  let  me  see  what  Dave 
thinks  of  this  'ere  glow.  He's  a  pretty  good  hand  at 
tellin'  the  weather,  an'  I'd  trust  him  before  I  would 
half  of  them  barometers  what  jump  up  an'  down 
without  sayin'  it's  a  change  for  better  or  worse." 

Joe  walked  softly  through  the  tunnel,  lest  he 
should  disturb  Petro's  slumbers,  and  a  few  moments 
later  returned  with  Carleton. 

"Look  out  there,  Dave,  an'  tell  me  what  you  think 
of  things  generally." 

The  sailor  did  as  he  was  bidden,  and  during  five 
minutes  or  more  remained  silent,  while  he  turned 
this  way  and  that,  sniffing  audibly  in  every  direc- 
tion. 

"Well,  what  have  you  got  to  say?"  Joe  asked  im- 
patiently as  his  comrade  delayed  speaking. 


294    THE-  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"This  'ere  is  about  the  size  of  it,  my  hearty,  ac- 
cordin'  to  the  way  I  figger  it  out  from  that  sky  and 
the  whine  of  the  water :  If  all  hands  belongin'  to  the 
brig  ain't  aboard  of  her  before  sunrise,  they'll  stand 
a  precious  good  chance  of  being  left  behinS,  because 
she's  going  to  get  under  way  mighty  soon,  if  her 
skipper  is  half  the  man  I  take  him  to  be." 

"Typhoon,  eh?" 

"That's  what  I  make  out  of  it.  See  here,  Joe, 
suppose  me  an'  the  boy  take  a  look  around  ?  With 
you  an'  Bartlett  to  stand  guard,  I  reckon  we  can  get 
from  here  to  the  cove  'long  shorelwithout  much  risk, 
and  it'll  be  a  precious  good  thing  for  us  to  know 
whether  any  of  'em  who  made  it  hot  for  us  a  spell 
ago  are  left  behind." 

-    Joe  Savage  remained  as  if  in  deep  thought  for  an 
instant  and  then  said  decidedly : 

"It  won't  do  anyhow,  Dave.  If  Petro  was  the 
man  we  knew  him  to  be  this  morning,  I'd  say  it 
would  be  a  good  thing  if  he  took  a  look  around ;  but 
for  you  and  Winn,  who  don't  know  the  place,  to  try 
anything  of  the  kind,  it  ain't  safe.  Besides,  if  all 
we've  allowed  comes  to  pass,  we'll  be  needed  in  this 
'ere  cave  before  you  could  go  an'  get  back." 

"I  tell  you  there'll  be  no  more  fightin'  to-night,  Joe 
Savage.  The  captain  of  the  brig  isn't  a  fool,  an' 
knows  by  this  time  that  he  can't  afford  to  lay  'round 


THE  ATTACK.  295 

Cocos  Island  much  longer.  Even  if  the  weather 
wasn't  quite  so  threatening  he'd  likely  up  anchor  be- 
cause it  ain't  a  case  of  givin'  him  the  slip  while  he's 
gone.  We're  bound  to  be  here,  an'  he  ain't  takin' 
any  chances  of  losin'  the  treasure  by  puttin'  to 
sea." 

''I  don't  believe  you'd  better  go,  Dave,  and  for 
more  reasons  than  one.  Petro  is  in  such  shape  that 
he's  likely  to  be  took  bad  any  minute,  and  with  only 
two  of  us  here  we  couldn't  'tend  to  him  unless  by 
leavin'  one  of  the  tunnels  unguarded,  which,  you 
must  agree,  wouldn't  be  safe." 
)^  "Then  Winn  an'  me  will  turn  in,"  Carleton  re- 
plied with  a  gesture  of  impatience,  and  taking  the 
boy  by  the  arm,  he  went  swiftly  into  the  cavern, 
where  could  be  seen  by  the  faint  light  of  the  fire, 
Petro  Garcia  reclining  as  if  in  profound  repose. 

It  seemed  to  Winn,  when  he  was  aroused  suddenly 
by  a  heavy,  booming  noise,  as  if  he  had  been  asleep 
several  hours,  and  he  started  up  in  alarm,  hearing 
nothing  of  his  companions,  but  with  the  reverbera- 
tions as  of  distant  cannonading  ringing  in  his  ears. 

The  fire  had  died  away  until  only  a  few  smoulder- 
ing embers  remained. 

The  darkness  was  profound. 

Feeling  his  way  toward  the  tiny  sparks  which  be- 
tokened the  location  of  the  fireplace,  he  kindled  so 


296    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

much  of  a  blaze  as  permitted  him  to  distinguish  ob- 
jects in  the  cavern. 

Petro  remained  as  if  asleep,  in  almost  exactly  the 
same  position  as  when  the  boy  saw  him  before,  but 
the  other  members  of  the  party  were  absent. 

A  gust  of  wind  suddenly  filled  the  cavern,  sending 
the  embers  in  every  direction,  and  the  noise  which 
had  aroused  Winn  increased  until  he  believed  it  was 
caused  by  thunder. 

Remembering  what  Joe  and  Dave  had  predicted, 
he  ran  to  the  tunnel  which  led  toward  the  shore,  buf- 
feted by  the  wind  which  swept  along  the  narrow  pas- 
sage with  such  force  that  advance  was  absolutely  dif- 
ficult, and  after  really  severe  effort  he  came  upon 
Bart  and  Joe. 

"Is  there  a  storm?"  he  asked,  and  Joe  replied 
grimly : 

"Aye,  lad,  such  a  one  as  I  venture  to  say  you've 
never  seen.  Dave  wasn't  far  wrong  when  he  al- 
lowed a  typhoon  was  close  at  hand;  but  both  of  us 
were  mistaken  in  reckoning  that  the  captain  of  the 
brig  had  sense  enough  to  leave  port  early  in  the 
evening." 

"Can  you  see  the  vessel  ?"  Winn  asked  in  surprise. 

"Aye,  lad,  now  and  then.  Look  yonder,  and 
when  the  spray  falls  you'll  see  the  craft  tryin'  to 
crawl  off  a  lee-shore.     God  grant  she'll  do  so,  even 


THE  ATTACK.  297 

though  them  on  board  are  willin'  to  shoot  us  down ; 
but  the  chances  are  against  her." 

Winn  went  forward  to  the  very  entrance.  He 
had  joined  his  companions  within  a  dozen  feet  or 
more  of  the  outer  end,  and  had  hardly  gained  this 
point  of  vantage  when  suddenly  there  came  a  crash 
as  of  thunder,  and  he  was  dashed  violently  backward 
by  a  volume  of  water. 

The  two  sailors  assisted  him  to  his  feet,  and  Joe 
said  in  a  voice  which  sounded  very  much  as  if 
choked  by  laughter : 

"I  didn't  think  to  warn  you,  lad,  that  the  sea  is 
breaking  in  on  us,  for  I  allowed  you'd  know  that 
much.  Howsomever,  it's  only  a  wettin'  you've  got, 
and  on  a  night  like  this  it  don't  count." 

''How  can  it  be  possible  for  the  waves  to  come  so 
high?"  Winn  asked  in  surprise.  "The  level  of  the 
sea  is  twenty  feet  below  this  cavern." 

"Aye,  lad,  and  the  surf  is  pilin'  up  twice  that 
height.  There's  no  need  of  keepin'  guard  here  until 
after  daybreak;  but  I'm  bound  to  hold  on  till  that 
'ere  craft  crawls  away  from  the  shore." 

Standing  so  near  the  outer  edge  that  at  times  he 
was  knee-deep  in  the  water,  Winn  strained  his  eyes 
to  make  out  the  shape  of  the  brig,  and  finally  saw 
what  he  believed  to  be  her — a  huge  dark  mass  which 
was  obscured  every  few  seconds  by  the  spray  flung 


\ 


298    THE  TEEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

up  from  the  rocks,  and  so  near  the  shore  that  it 
seemed  certain  she  would  beat  upon  it  the  next  in- 
stant. 

"li  that's  the  brig,  here  comes  the  schooner!" 
Carleton  cried  as  he  stepped  quickly  to  Winn's  side, 
and  the  boy  saw  another  dark  spot  rising  and  falling 
violently,  at  times  thrown  up  in  bold  relief  against 
the  almost  luminous  sky  and  again  swallowed  by  the 
inky  blackness  of  the  waters. 

"Both  skippers  were  mad  to  have  held  on  so  long," 
Joe  muttered,  and  Dave  added : 

"I  reckon  they  allowed  there  wouldn't  be  any 
great  weight  to  the  wind,  an'  the  island  might  act  as 
a  breakwater.  The  odds  are  that  this  'ere  smother 
sprang  up  in  the  west,  an'  has  circled  'round  before 
these  treasure-mad  captains  had  an  idea  of  what  was 
before  'em." 

''Will  they  work  off  shore,  think  you  ?"  Joe  asked 
anxiously,  and  Carleton  replied  sharply: 

'The  odds  are  mightily  agin  'em.  God  help  the 
craft  that  comes  ashore  on  this  graveyard  of  a  reef." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PETROLS  DEATH. 

The  sailors  and  Winn  remained  as  near  the  en- 
trance of  the  tunnel  as  was  safe  while  the  waves  beat 
upon  that  portion  of  the  coast  with  such  fury,  all 
three  fascinated  by  the  momentary  glimpses  they 
had  of  the  laboring  vessels. 

It  might  have  been  an  hour,  or  only  a  few  mo- 
ments, so  little  heed  did  they  give  to  the  passage  of 
time  with  that  wild  scene  before  them,  when  Winn 
fancied  he  heard  a  strange  noise  from  the  cavern. 

It  was  not  possible  to  distinguish  any  sounds 
above  the  roar  of  the  tempest,  save  during  those  brief 
lulls  when  it  seemed  as  if  all  nature  had  paused  in  its 
violent  work  to  gain  strength  for  a  fresh  outburst; 
but  his  quick  ear  had  caught  the  feeble  cry,  and  he 
said  in  alarm : 

"I  believe  Petro  is  trying  to  call  us !" 

"Go  in  and  see,  lad.  If  we're  needed,  sing  out, 
an'  we'll  be  there  in  a  shake,"  Joe  replied,  pushing 
the  boy  toward  the  chamber,  but  not  so  much  as 
turning  his  head  because  of  the  spell  which  held  him 
as  if  in  fetters. 

299 


300    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Winn  had  no  more  than  time  to  traverse  the  short 
distance  twice  before  he  was  confronting  his  com- 
rades again,  saying  hurriedly : 

"I  beHeve  Petro  is  dying !  He  didn't  speak  to  me, 
but  groaned  terribly,  and  his  face  is  white." 

Instantly  Joe  and  Dave  were  running  through  the 
passage  at  full  speed,  and  on  gaining  the  wounded 
man's  side  understood  that  Winn  had  not  given  a  false 
alarm. 

The  old  man  was  stretched  out  at  full  length,  one 
hand  gripping  hard  over  the  wound,  while  with  the 
other  he  convulsively  dug  the  sand  away  as  if  trying 
to  come  at  something  beneath  the  surface. 

His  eyes  were  open  and  staring,  and  a  crimsoned 
froth  oozed  from  his  lips. 

*'Bring  water !  Quick !"  Joe  cried  as  he  raised  the 
sufferer's  head  gently,  stroking  his  brow  as  he  would 
have  soothed  a  child. 

Winn  was  the  one  who  obeyed  the  sailor's  com- 
mand, and  he  tried  in  vain  to  induce  the  old  man  to 
drink;  but  it  was  as  if  the  spirit  had  already  left  its 
earthly  shell. 

Joe,  forcing  the  almost  rigid  jaws  apart,  poured  a 
small  quantity  of  the  liquid  down  Petro's  throat,  and 
a  few  seconds  later  the  anxious  watchers  were  re- 
lieved by  seeing  the  sufferer's  eyes  move,  as  a  faint 
tinge  of  blood  crept  into  his  cheeks. 


PETEO'S   DEATH.  301 

"It  was  lucky  you  heard  him  just  as  you  did,"  Joe 
said  in  a  whisper.  "If  he'd  been  left  alone  five  min- 
utes longer,  I  reckon  the  end  would  have  come." 

"Are  you  feeling  better  ?"  Winn  asked  in  a  tremu- 
lous voice,  and  the  old  man  replied  by  a  faint  move- 
ment of  the  head. 

"Heat  some  of  that  'ere  canned  soup,"  Dave 
Carleton  said  sharply,  his  sorrow  giving  him  a  sem- 
blance of  anger.  "He  didn't  eat  at  supper  time  as 
much  as  would  be  needed  by  a  full-grown  sparrow, 
an'  a  little  nourishment  now  is  better  than  too  much 
water." 

Winn  looked  toward  Joe  as  if  asking  his  opinion, 
and  the  latter  replied  to  the  mute  question : 

"It  can  do  no  harm,  at  all  events,  an'  may  pull  him 
together  a  bit." 

As  soon  as  might  be  the  boy  did  as  he  was  bidden, 
and  Petro  swallowed  several  mouthfuls  as  if  the 
warm  liquid  gave  him  relief. 

Then,  after  motioning  for  Joe  to  raise  him  higher, 
he  asked  in  a  voice  so  faint  that  it  was  hardly  more 
than  a  whisper : 

"Is  a  tempest  raging?" 

"Aye,  Petro,  a  typhoon,  an'  both  vessels  are 
makin'  a  lee-shore  of  the  island,  with  but  little  chance 
of  bein'  able  to  clear  the  reefs." 

"God  grant  them  safe  delivery,"  the  old  man  whis- 


302    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

pered  as  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  after  that  no  word 
was  spoken  for  several  moments,  when  Petro  asked 
feebly : 

''Are  you  all  here?" 

''Bartlett  is  on  guard  in  the  landward  tunnel ;  but 
there's  little  need  for  watchin'  this  night,"  Joe  re- 
plied. 

"Let  the  man  be  called." 

Winn  went  hurriedly  to  summon  Bartlett,  return- 
ing with  all  speed  after  this  had  been  done. 

"All  hands  are  here  now,"  Joe  said  as  he  motioned 
the  sailor  to  draw  near.  "Did  you  want  to  say 
something,  Petro?" 

"You  believe  I  am  dying,  do  you  not?" 

Joe  stammered,  not  wishing  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion directly,  and  the  old  man  said,  speaking  in  a 
louder  tone,  as  if  eager  that  all  should  hear : 

"You  need  not  hesitate  to  say  it.  I  know  that  but 
few  moments  remain  to  me  in  this  world,  and  before 
I  go  there  is  a  last  favor  you  can  grant  me." 

"Don't  use  up  too  much  strength  talking  but  hint 
at  what  you  mean,  an'  it'll  be  the  same  as  if  you'd 
made  a  long  yarn  of  it." 

"You  know  where  the  Aymara  treasure  is 
buried?" 

Joe  nodded. 

"You  know  the  boy  is  Manuel  Telceda's  heir,  and 


PETEO'S   DEATH.  303 

that  Manuel  left  with  him  fullest  instructions  as  to 
what  should  be  done  with  the  gold,  if  the  good  God 
permits  it  to  be  taken  away  from  here  by  those  who 
respect  the  rights  of  my  people?" 

"Hold  on  a  bit,  an'  see  if  I  can't  do  some  of  this 
talkin',  for  you're  too  weak  to  keep  this  thing  up 
very  long,"  Joe  interrupted.  *'You  want  us  to  agree 
that  we'll  carry  out  the  orders  written  down  by  old 
Manuel  ?" 

"Yes,  and  to  do  so  you  must  find  my  people." 

"It  shall  be  done,"  the  sailor  said  promptly.  "I 
know  where  Manuel  found  those  he  talked  with 
when  the  'Flying  Scud'  came  to  anchor  off  the  Vene- 
zuelan coast,  an'  that's  the  first  port  we'll  make  after 
leavin'  here." 

"Buy  a  vessel  as  you  proposed.  Work  her  your- 
selves, or,  at  the  most,  do  not  hire  more  than  one 
man,  lest  the  gold  prove  such  a  temptation  that  more 
crime  be  committed.  If  you  find  my  people,  divide 
the  wealth  among  them  as  Manuel  has  directed, 
keeping  for  yourselves  as  much  as  he  set  down 
should  be  paid  to  all  those  who  assisted  in  the  re- 
moval." 

"You  want  us  to  follow  the  orders  he  gave  Winn 
in  writin'?"  Joe  interrupted  when  the  old  man's 
voice  failed  him. 

"Yes,  and  you  will  consult  your  own  judgment  as 


304    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

to  how  you  can  best  take  the  treasure  from  this 
island." 

''We  promise,  Petro,  an'  there  ain't  one  of  us  as 
will  go  back  on  the  agreement." 

''Let  each  in  turn  say  'I  swear  to  carry  out  to  the 
best  of  my  ability  the  written  instructions  set  down 
by  Manuel  Telceda  and  given  to  Winslow  Burbridge 
for  safe  keeping.'  " 

"Joe  was  the  first  to  repeat  the  words,  holding  up 
his  right  hand  as  if  to  show  he  considered  the  for- 
mality a  lawful  oath,  and  in  turn  the  others  followed 
his  example. 

Petro  appeared  satisfied  with  these  pledges,  and 
motioning  Winn  to  come  nearer,  he  said  as  the  boy 
clasped  his  cold  hand : 

"You  shall  take  for  yourself,  lad,  a  full  portion, 
and  also  the  one  Manuel  would  have  held,  as  your 
own.  That  which  was  to  be  given  the  captain  and 
mate  of  the  'Flying  Scud'  you  will  divide  among 
your  three  companions,  except  that  from  it  shall  be 
paid  to  the  ofiicers  of  the  schoonef  such  an  amount 
as  represents  their  outlay  in  making  the  voyage.  I 
leave  to  you  the  direction  of  the  affair,  as  did  my 
friend  Manuel,  and  may  the  Aymara  treasure  bring 
to  you  and  yours  such  happiness  as  was  denied  its 
rightful  owners." 

Then  Petro  covered  his  face  with  the  coat  Joe  had 


PETRO'S   DEATH.  305 

thrown  over  him,  and  his  companions  believed  he 
wished  to  shield  his  eyes  from  the  dancing  fire-light 
which  swayed  hither  and  yon  under  the  strong  wind 
which  swept  through  the  tunnels. 

With  his  head  resting  upon  a  pillow  formed  by 
filling  with  leaves  the  bag  in  which  Winn  had 
brought  his  store  of  provisions  from  the  'Tlying 
Scud,"  the  old  man's  comrades  left  him,  in  the  hope 
he  might  sleep,  and  all  went  through  the  seaward 
tunnel  to  learn  if  the  brig  and  schooner  were  yet 
struggling  within  sight  of  the  island. 

Standing  at  the  entrance  of  the  passage,  gripping 
each  other  tightly,  lest  one  or  more  should  be  swept 
away  by  the  raging  waters  which  leaped  up  into  the 
tunnel  as  if  eager  to  find  a  victim,  the  guardians  of 
the  treasure  searched  with  their  eyes  the  pall  of 
blackness  that  hung  above  the  waters. 

The  peculiar  luminous  hue  had  disappeared  from 
the  heavens,  and  the  clouds  but  served  to  add  to  the 
gloom  of  night. 

Only  here  and  there,  where  the  foam  of  the  sea 
gave  forth  a  certain  ghastly  whiteness,  could  any- 
thing be  discerned  among  the  howling,  roaring, 
seething  mass  which  seemed  to  fill  the  air. 

"They  may  have  crawled  off  while  we  were  talk- 
ing with  Petro,"  Joe  said,  after  making  certain  it 
was  impossible  to  distinguish  objects  even  close  at 


306    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

hand.  "It  didn't  look  as  if  there  was  any  very  good 
show  of  doing  that  when  I  last  saw  'em." 

^'There's  no  hope  for  either  craft  or  crew  that 
strikes  the  shore  this  night,"  Dave  said  solemnly, 
and  Winn  was  seized  with  a  nervous  trembling  he 
could  not  repress  as  he  thought  of  the  possible  fate 
which  had  overtaken  those  who  were  so  lately  eager 
to  shed  blood. 

The  scene  with  Petro  had  completely  unnerved 
him,  and  the  howling  of  the  tempest  caused  a  parox- 
ysm of  fear  such  as  he  had  never  known  before. 

"Come  away,  lad,"  Joe  said,  soothingly,  as  he  led 
the  boy  into  the  cavern.  "It  will  do  you  no  good  to 
listen  to  the  devil's  music  that  comes  with  the 
gale." 

"I  must  be  a  terrible  coward  if  I  can't  stand  the 
noise  of  a  storm,"  Winn  replied  in  a  hysterical  tone. 

"I'm  not  so  certain  of  it,  lad,  for  in  my  time  I've 
seen  old  sailormen,  reg'lar  shell-backs,  who  have 
turned  pale  in  spite  of  the  browning  laid  on  their 
faces  by  the  weather,  when  they  were  in  the  centre 
of  a  typhoon,  an'  that's  about  where  we  are  this 
minute." 

"Do  you  think  either  vessel  weathered  the  point  ?" 

"There's  about  one  chance  in  a  hundred  both  are 
afloat  now ;  but  that's  all." 

"Don't  you  think  any  of  the  men  could  save  them- 


PETROLS   DEATH.  307 

selves  T'  and  Winn  was  seized  with  an  inward  shud- 
dering that  Hterally  caused  his  teeth  to  chatter. 

"No  Hving  thing — not  even  a  fish — could  come 
through  that  surf  onto  the  jagged  rocks  an'  live  so 
long  as  a  single  minute.  The  sailor  whose  craft 
strikes  Cocos  Island  this  night  could  not  be  saved 
even  though  fifty  men  stood  ready  to  lend  a  hand, 
for  he'd  be  beaten  to  death  by  the  waves  before  you 
could  say  'Jack  Robinson.'  " 

By  this  time  the  two  were  in  the  cavern  and  saw 
Petro  as  they  had  left  him. 

"The  old  man  is  still  asleep,  an'  it's  the  best  medi- 
cine he  can  have,"  Joe  whispered,  and  Winn  stepped 
softly  to  the  invalid's  side  in  order  to  replace  the  coat 
which  had  slipped  a  few  inches  from  his  face. 

As  he  stooped  he  uttered  a  shrill  cry  of  mingled 
pain  and  fear,  for  in  the  glassy,  staring  eyeball  and 
the  drooping  jaw  he  recognized  the  presence  of 
death. 

Joe  Savage  understood  the  situation  without  need 
of  a  glance,  and  at  once  gathered  the  boy  in  his 
arms,  carrying  him  through  the  tunnel  which  opened 
landward,  while  he  said,  much  as  if  speaking  to  a 
child : 

"You're  needin'  a  stiff  upper  lip  now,  lad,  and 
knowing  that  the  old  man  has  slipped  his  cable  with- 
out so  much  as  a  struggle  should  help  you  to  it.    We 


308    THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

had  reason  to  believe  he  couldn't  live  many  hours, 
when  he  last  spoke  to  us,  an'  there's  big  cause  for 
thankfulness  because  he's  been  spared  sufferin'." 

There  was  death  in  the  air  that  night;  its  chill 
shadow  seemed  everywhere  around,  and  Winn  Bur- 
bridge  was  not  the  only  one  of  that  little  party  who 
felt  its  presence. 

When  Dave  and  Bartlett  learned  the  saddening 
news,  they  gathered  in  the  cavern  with  Joe  and 
Winn,  after  the  lifeless  body,  covered  with  such  a 
shroud  as  they  could  give  it,  had  been  laid  reveren- 
tially near  the  wall  on  the  side  opposite  the  fireplace, 
and  during  the  remainder  of  that  long,  dismal  night 
no  member  of  the  little  party  either  spoke  or  slept. 

If  they  raised  their  eyes  but  slightly  it  seemed  im- 
possible to  shut  out  from  view  the  ominous-looking 
form,  and  with  every  new  gust  of  wind  each  heard 
the  requiem  of  those  who  had  been  drowned  while 
their  hands  were  yet  stained  with  the  blood  of  their 
fellows. 

It  was  a  most  blessed  relief  to  all  when  the  pale 
light  of  the  new  day  crept  through  the  eastern  pas- 
sage, flecking  the  white  sand  with  tiny  patches  of 
sunshine  and  betokening  life  and  peace. 

"Come  outside,  lad ;  we'll  have  a  look  at  the  cove," 
Joe  said  abruptly,  and  as  the  boy  arose  to  his  feet  the 
sailor  whispered  to  Dave  and  Bartlett. 


PETRO'S   DEATH.  309 

Without  giving  particular  heed  to  the  fact,  Winn 
noted  that  these  two  remained  in  the  cavern  after  he 
and  Joe  left  it,  and  for  a  moment  he  wondered  when 
they  intended  to  follow. 

Then  his  attention  was  attracted  by  the  ravages 
of  the  tempest. 

On  every  hapd  could  be  seen  the  work  of  the  wind. 
Huge  palms  were  shattered  or  uprooted.  Branches 
of  trees,  sea-weed  and  bits  of  wreckage  had  been 
strewn  in  every  direction. 

Joe  first  led  the  way  to  the  excavation  from  which 
Petro  had  taken,  at  the  expense  of  such  a  vast 
amount  of  labor,  the  Aymara  treasure. 

One  would  have  said  an  army  of  men  had  been 
employed  to  fill  it  in,  for  hardly  more  than  a  depres- 
sion in  the  soil  marked  what  had  so  lately  been  a 
huge  pit. 

''Typhoons  are  terrors  when  they  let  themselves 
loose,"  the  sailor  said  grimly,  ''an'  a  craft  don't  have 
much  chance  even  with  plenty  of  sea-room,  which 
wasn't  the  case  with  the  two  we  saw  last  night." 

"Are  you  going  to  the  cove?" 

"Do  you  think  it's  best  ?  There  may  be  many  an 
ugly  thing  there  which  you'll  be  none  the  better  for 
seein'." 

"Let  us  go,"  Winn  said  curtly,  trying  to  repress 
the  nervous  twitchings  of  his  lips. 


310    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

There  was  no  longer  any  fear  in  the  minds  of 
either  that  they  might  meet  an  enemy,  although  it 
was  possible,  even  probable,  that  some  of  the  brig's 
crew  had  been  left  behind  to  keep  watch  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  cave. 

After  all  that  had  occurred  the  most  bitter  foes 
could  not  but  be  friendly  while  the  scent  of  death 
was  yet  strong  in  the  air. 

Spars,  broken  timbers,  tangled  rigging  and  frag- 
ments of  canvas  covered  the  white  sand,  all  giving 
evidence  of  the  tragedy  which  had  been  enacted  al- 
most within  hail  of  those  who  ministered  to  old 
Petro's  simple  wants. 

"That  tells  the  story,  lad.  Yonder  lays  the 
schooner's  figure-head,  an'  jest  beyond  is  the  brig's 
galley;  I  know  it  by  the  stripe  of  red  paint  around 
the  edges,  lookin'  as.  if  the  cook  had  wiped  his  hands 
there  after  a  bit  of  butcherin'.  It  was  almost  the 
first  thing  I  saw  when  the  craft  came  to  anchor." 

*Then  there  can  be  no  question  but  that  both  were 
wrecked,  and  every  man " 

Winn  stopped  suddenly  as  if  alarmed  by  the  men- 
tal picture  before  him,  and  Joe  said  gravely : 

*Tt's  an  endin'  sich  as  sailormen  must  expect,  an' 
for  my  part  I  don't  think  it  the  worst  that  can  come 
to  a  man.  But  see  here,  lad,  instead  of  moonin'  on 
what's  been  done,  s'pose  we  look  ahead  a  bit?     It 


PETRO'S   DEATH.  311 

ain't  with  us  as  it  was  last  night,  for  then  it  seemed 
as  if  we  might  be  cooped  up  in  the  cave  a  twelve- 
month, with  the  chances  that  then  we'd  give  in 
beaten  for  the  sake  of  gettin'  clear  of  this  bloomin' 
island.  Now  it's  a  case  of  goin'  when  we  take  a 
fancy,  an'  'cordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin',  we'd  best 
set  about  figgerin'  how  we  want  to  start." 

''Let's  leave  the  very  minute  it's  possible,  Joe!" 
Winn  cried  excitedly,  as  if  until  that  moment  he  had 
not  realized  what  an  able  ally  the  typhoon  had 
proven  to  be.  "Yd  rather  abandon  all  the  treasure 
than  stay  here  another  day !" 

"I  don't  reckon  we  can  put  to  sea  quite  so  soon  as 
that,  an'  besides,  we're  bound  to  carry  away  the  gold 
whether  you  hanker  after  it  or  not,  else  how'll  we 
keep  our  word  with  Petro?" 

''What  is  to  be  done?  You  said  the  dory  was 
good  sea-boat  enough  to  take  us  to  Port  Refuge." 

"When  I  made  sich  talk  I  had  in  mind  tryin'  to 
slip  away  from  them  as  was  bent  on  holdin'  us  here. 
Now  that  there's  nothin'  to  fear,  we'd  be  bloomin' 
idjuts  to  start  in  an  egg-shell  of  a  craft  when  here's 
another  close  at  our  hands." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Winn  asked  in  perplexity, 
looking  quickly  around  as  if  expecting  to  see  a  vessel 
of  some  kind. 

"With  this  lot  of  timbers  we  can  soon  put  together 


312    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

what'll  serve  to  carry  not  only  ourselves,  but  the 
treasure  as  well,  an'  then  there'll  be  no  call  to  come 
back  to  this  place.  We'll  build  a  snug  little  sloop  of 
thirty  tons — or  as  large  as  we  shall  need — an'  then 
if  it  so  chances  we  don't  find  a  schooner  at  Port 
Refuge  for  sale,  we  can  jog  along  to  Australia, 
where  there  ain't  much  doubt  about  gettin'  what  we 
want." 

''But  it'll  take  years  to  build  a  regular  vessel." 
"Not  as  long  as  you  think,  my  hearty.    First  we'll 
turn  to  an'  save  this  wreckage,  an'  then  lay  the  keel 
of  our  craft.     A  month  should  be  long  enough  for 
the  work." 

"A  month !"  Winn  exclaimed  in  dismay,  and  then 
realizing  that  he  was  playing  a  peevish,  childish  part, 
he  added  with  some  semblance  of  cheeriness :  ''Why 
don't  we  begin  the  work  at  once,  instead  of  sitting 
here  idle?" 

"Wait  till  Bartlett  an'  Dave  come  to  lend  a  hand." 

"I  wonder  why  they  are  stopping  so  long " 

Winn  ceased  speaking  very  suddenly  as  the  truth 
dawned  upon  him,  and  after  a  long  pause  he  asked 
almost  timidly: 

"Are  they Have — they " 

"I  thought  it  was  best,  lad.  It  would  do  you  no 
good,  and  they  will  bury  the  old  man  as  tenderly  as 
his  own  father  could  have  done.     Since  it  must  be, 


PETRO'S   DEATH.  313 

the  sooner  it's  over  the  better,  for  our  business  is  to 
care  for  the  living,  not  spend  time  mournin'  over 
them  as  have  got  through  with  all  the  hard  knocks 
an'  hard  fare  of  this  world." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

SHIP-BUILDING. 

When  Bartlett  and  Dave  finally  made  their  ap- 
pearance there  was  an  expression  of  something  very 
like  sorrow  on  their  faces,  and  both  advanced  sol- 
emnly in  an  orderly  fashion,  as  if  still  participating 
in  the  obsequies. 

Winn  asked  no  questions. 

Even  if  Joe  had  not  already  explained  the  purpose 
of  their  remaining  in  the  cave,  the  boy  would  have 
understood  full  well  the  sad  business  which  had  oc- 
cupied them. 

An  air  of  constraint  and  sadness  hovered  over 
each  member  of  the  little  party,  until  Joe  said  cheer- 
ily, almost  boisterously : 

''Now  then,  my  hearties,  there's  work  to  be  done, 
an'  in  plenty,  if  we  count  on  leavin'  this  bloomin'  isl- 
and in  ship-shape  fashion.  Yonder's  wreckage 
enough,  as  I've  just  been  sayin'  to  the  lad,  as  will 
build  a  craft  of  a  size  to  carry  us  an'  the  treasure  to 
Port  Refuge,  or  any  other  harbor  where  we  can  find 
a  schooner  what's  up  for  sale.     It  ain't  goin'  to  lay 

314 


SHIP-BUILDING.  315 

'round  this  cove  very  long,  shipmates,  an'  what's 
saved  must  be  hauled  ashore  directly." 

''Do  you  allow  we  can  build  a  craft  of  any  size 
unless  we  spend  half  a  lifetime  doin'  it?"  Bartlett 
asked,  moodily,  and  Dave  replied  to  the  question : 

''What's  to  hinder,  mate;  what's  to  hinder?  I 
didn't  make  any  objection  when  Joe  allowed  to  set 
off  in  the  dory,  because  it  wasn't  my  place,  an' 
though  I'd  most  likely  have  gone  with  him  if  he  said 
the  word,  it  wouldn't  have  been  to  my  likin'.  Build 
a  craft  ?  Why,  we  could  put  together  a  hundred-ton 
schooner,  if  it  so  be  there  are  spars  enough." 

"I'm  countin'  on  a  broad-beamed  sloop  of  say 
thirty  tons  or  more,"  Joe  added,  ''an'  if  we  find  tools, 
the  job  should  be  done  in  a  month's  time." 

Instead  of  arguing,  as  Bartlett  appeared  inclined 
to  do,  Dave  went  directly  toward  the  shore,  and 
Winn,  feeling  that  he  needed  hard  work  to  drive 
away  the  gloomy  thoughts  which  beset  him,  fol- 
lowed close  at  his  heels. 

Soon  all  hands  were  busily  engaged  in  drawing 
up  from  the  yet  turbulent  waves  fragments  of  the 
vessels  which  had  been  dashed  to  pieces  against  the 
rocky  shore,  and  the  task  was  lightened  considerably 
when,  having  found  a  block  and  tackle,  Joe  made  it 
fast  to  the  stump  of  a  palm  tree. 

By  such  purchase  it  was  possible  to  drag  the 


316    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

heavier  timbers  from  the  water  with  comparatively 
Httle  labor. 

•By  nightfall,  and  none  of  the  party  had  spent  very 
much  time  over  dinner,  there  was  a  rude  collection 
of  ropes,  planks,  timbers  and  canvas  on  the  sand 
above  reach  of  the  waves,  in  such  quantity  as  would 
give  them  ample  material  for  the  vessel  they  pro- 
posed to  build. 

The  most  important  find  of  the  day  was  a  partially 
filled  tool-chest  from  the  brig. 

Half  a  dozen  sea-chests,  wholly  or  partly  filled 
with  their  late  owners'  effects,  two  casks  of  beef,  five 
barrels  of  bread,  and  general  stores  in  great  variety 
helped  make  up  the  list  of  property  rescued  from  the 
waves,  and  yet  it  seemed  as  if  a  like  amount  re- 
mained afloat  in  the  cove  or  stranded  on  the  lines  of 
reef  extending  on  either  side. 

"I  reckon  we  may  as  well  knock  off  for  to-day," 
Joe  said,  when  the  shadows  of  night  began  to 
lengthen  into  gloom.  "If  all  hands  are  as  nearly 
pegged  out  as  I  am,  it's  time  to  turn  in.*' 

Winn,  who  had  done  his  full  share  of  the  work, 
heard  this  proposition  with  regret.    , 

Above  all  things,  he  shrank  from  entering  the 
cavern  where  death  was  so  lately  a  visitor,  and  it 
would  have  pleased  him  better  had  Joe  suggested 
that  they  spend  the  night  in  the  open  air. 


SHIP-BUILDING.  317 

However,  he  was  ashamed  to  give  words  to  such 
weak  fears,  and  followed  his  comrades  as  they  made 
their  way  toward  the  thicket  of  thorn  bushes,  but 
taking  good  care  to  bring  up  the  rear  rather  than  re- 
main in  advance. 

The  evening  passed  less  mournfully  than  he  had 
feared. 

After  a  hearty  meal,  of  which  all  stood  decidedly 
in  need,  the  sailors,  in  order  to  distract  their  young 
comrade's  attention  from  the  past,  spun  yarns 
wherein  all  mention  of  wrecks  or  violent  death  was 
avoided,  and  almost  before  he  was  aware  of  the  fact, 
Winn's  eyes  were  closed  in  slumber,  from  which  re- 
pose he  did  not  awaken  until  the  sun  sent  his  cheer- 
ing rays  through  the  eastern  passage  to  the  very 
floor  of  the  circular  chamber. 

Among  the  goods  drawn  ashore  on  the  previous 
day  was  a  small  case  of  tinware,  and  Joe,  opening  it, 
had  found,  together  wdth  other  articles,  several  tin 
vessels,  one  of  which  was  now  over  the  fire  sending 
forth  the  aromatic  odor  of  coffee. 

Breakfast  was  prepared  while  the  cook  slept,  and 
Winn  had  no  more  to  do  than  take  a  most  refreshing 
plunge  in  the  now  placid  sea,  after  w^hich  he  joined 
his  mates  in  making  a  most  palatable  meal. 

Then  the  work  of  wrecking  was  continued,  and 
twice  before   noon   came   the   laborers   found   and 


318    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

buried  reverentially  bodies  of  their  enemies  who  had 
been  vanquished  by  the  elements. 

Thanks  to  the  wind,  which  still  held  from  the 
southeast,  the  flotsam  and  jetsam  remained  in  the 
cove  until  every  article  which  could  be  utilized  had 
been  drawn  ashore. 

'T  reckon  we  can  call  the  wreckin'  part  of  our 
work  done,"  Joe  Savage  said  that  evening  as  the 
four  were  eating  supper.  'To-morrow  mornin' 
we'll  lay  the  keel  of  the  new  craft.  I  don't  allow 
she's  goin'  to  be  any  great  beauty,  but  if  three  sailor- 
men  can't  put  together  what  will  float  an'  stand  up 
under  a  decent  show  of  canvas,  it'll  be  strange. 
What  say  you,  lads,  how  large  shall  we  make 
her  r 

'Tf  you're  countin'  on  carryin'  away  the  treasure, 
the  question  is,  what's  it's  bulk  ?"  Bartlett  said,  and 
Joe  was  at  a  loss  for  a  reply. 

''That's  what  I  can't  so  much  as  guess  at.  Ac- 
cordin'  to  old  Manuel's  account,  there  was  more'n 
five  million  dollars  in  gold  an'  silver.  How  big  a 
pile  do  you  think  that  would  make  ?" 

"Seein's  I  never  had  more  than  a  hundred  dollars 
at  any  one  time  in  my  life,  I  ain't  any  fit  person  to 
make  a  guess  on  it,"  Dave  Carleton  said  with  a 
laugh.  "I'd  like  to  know  how  long  it'll  take  us  to 
dig  it  up,  'cause  if  it  isn't  a  big  job,  I'd  say  let's  have 


SHIP-BUILDING.  319 

a  look  at  the  stuff  so's  to  make  up  our  minds  what 
tonnage  the  new  craft  needs  to  be." 

"If  the  hole  in  the  ground  that  we  saw  here  is  any 
guide,  there  must  be  a  pretty  considerable  bulk  of 
it,"  Joe  replied,  thoughtfully.  "l\e  never  seen  it 
myself,  an'  can't  so  much  as  guess  how  long  it'll  take 
to  unearth  it,  though  accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin' 
we'd  better  not  do  much  in  that  line  until  we're  ready 
to  put  it  aboard.  Of  course,  even  though  this  island 
is  out  of  the  track  of  saiHn'  vessels,  there's  no  tellin' 
how  soon  some  craft  may  come  nosin'  'round,  an' 
we'd  be  in  a  fine  mess  with  a  big  pile  of  gold  an'  sil- 
ver layin'  'round  promiscuous-like." 

"Is  it  buried  far  from  the  cove?"  Bartlett  asked. 

"About  the  same  distance  as  from  here  to  the 
shore,  I  should  say." 

"You  know  where  it  is,  of  course." 

"Sure,  and  what's  more,  lads,  you  might  as  well 
have  a  hint  of  it,  seein'  how  I  reckon  you're  sittin' 
atop  of  the  pile  this  very  minute." 

Bartlett  and  Dave  sprang  to  their  feet  as  if  in 
alarm,  and  for  the  first  time  since  Petro's  death 
Winn  laughed  heartily. 

"The  old  man  told  us  that  when  the  time  come  to 
take  it  away,  we  should  start  in  underneath  this  'ere 
fire,  an'  if  I  was  to  have  a  guess  at  it,  I'd  say  he  had 
made  a  hole  in  the  rock,  which  wouldn't  be  any  hard 


320    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

job  as  you  can  tell  by  whittling  the  wall  with  your 
knife." 

"Now  I  can  understand  why  he  wouldn't  let  the 
captain  of  the  brig  in  here,"  Dave  exclaimed,  as  if  a 
sudden  thought  had  come  to  him.  "Although  I 
reckon  half  a  dozen  skippers  could  have  laid  'round  a 
month  without  suspectin'  that  the  treasure  was  un- 
der their  feet.  The  idea  never  come  to  me  in  all  the 
time  I've  been  here,  an'  more  hours  than  one  have  I 
spent  trying  to  guess  where  it  was.  How  long  do 
you  reckon  our  crew,  or  the  men  from  the  brig, 
would  have  hunted  over  this  'ere  island  before  so 
much  as  thinkin'  the  stuff  mightn't  be  outside  ?" 

"They'd  have  dug  a  year,  unless  the  brig's  captain 
had  an  inkling  of  the  truth  'cause  Petro  wouldn't  let 
him  look  'round  here ;  but  there's  no  need  of  making 
so  much  talk  about  what  don't  concern  us  yet  a 
while.     How  large  a  vessel  do  we  need  ?" 

"I'd  say  you  struck  it  right  when  you  allowed 
thirty  tons  would  be  the  size.  There's  no  need  of 
spending  any  more  time  than  is  necessary,  seein's 
how  we  only  count  on  usin'  her  till  we  can  buy  a 
schooner." 

"What  shall  we  name  her  ?"  Winn  asked,  and  Joe 
replied,  thoughtfully : 

"I  hadn't  thought  there  was  any  need  of  that,  lad  ; 
but  perhaps  we  might  as  well  have  a  christenin'  be- 


SHIP-BUILDING.  321 

fore  we  start.  How  does  'The  Fairhaven  Pride' 
strike  you?  That  will  kind  of  remind  us  of  home, 
and  it's  a  good  United  States  name." 

Winn  was  not  particularly  well  pleased  with  the 
combination  of  words,  but  refrained  from  expressing 
his  opinion  because  the  other  two  members  of  the 
party  appeared  to  think  it  particularly  appropriate, 
and  thus  were  two  important  questions  settled. 

P>om  the  following  morning  until  the  twenty-six 
days  had  elapsed  the  details  of  the  work  performed 
by  the  guardians  of  the  Aymara  treasure  would 
prove  uninteresting. 

Therefore  it  is  sufficient  to  set  down  the  general 
results  of  this  long  time  of  severe  and  arduous  labor, 
during  which  each  member  of  the  party  worked 
most  industriously  throughout  every  hour  of  day- 
light, and  gave  but  little  heed  to  fatigue  of  body,  be- 
cause each  hour  saw  them  nearer  the  moment  when 
they  might  say  good-by  to  Cocos  Island. 

There  was  no  fairer  spot  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  and 
yet  to  those  who  were  virtually  imprisoned  upon  it, 
almost  any  other  place  in  the  wide  world  would  have 
been  preferable,  so  stained  with  blood  and  peopled 
with  ghosts  of  the  imagination  was  it. 

The  "Fairhaven  Pride"  was  launched  on  the 
twenty-sixth  day  after  her  keel  had  been  laid,  and, 
although  her  builders  were  by  no  means  skilled  la- 


322    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAl^TD. 

borers,  she  gave  promise  of  being  a  staunch  and  fleet 
sea-boat. 

Critics  might  have  said  she  was  too  broad  of  beam 
for  her  length;  that  the  heavy  timbers,  where  light 
ones  might  have  been  used  to  better  advantage, 
caused  her  to  look  unwieldy,  and,  in  fact,  many  im- 
perfections could  be  found ;  but  those  who  proposed 
to  take  passage  in  her  firmly  believed  that  were  it 
possible  to  carry  her  across  the  oceans  which  lay  be- 
tween them  and  their  home,  she  would  become  what 
her  name  implied — the  pride  of  Fairhaven. 

''I  don't  lay  any  claim  to  bein'  a  ship  carpenter," 
Joe  Savage  said  when  the  little  vessel  was  floating 
lightly  on  the  waters  of  the  cove,  rising  and  falling 
with  the  gentle  swell  as  if  courtesying  to  the  ocean 
to  which  she  had  just  been  entrusted;  ''but  this  much 
I  hold  to:  There  ain't  three  sailormen  and  a  boy 
in  this  'ere  world  that  could  have  turned  out  a  trim- 
mer an'  a  snugger  craft  than  this  same  'Fairhaven 
Pride.'  If  it  wasn't  that  we'd  be  cramped  for  room, 
so  to  speak,  after  the  treasure  is  on  board,  I'd  be 
willin'  to  weather  Cape  Horn  in  her,  for  I  tell  you, 
mates,  she  was  built  to  swim,  and  she'll  do  it  like  a 
duck." 

"If  I  could  alter  her  in  any  way  by  only  speakin', 
I'd  keep  my  mouth  closed  mighty  tight,"  Dave 
Carleton    added,     complacently.       "'Cause    why? 


SHIP-BUILDING.  323 

'Cause  there  ain't  anything  about  her  that  you  want 
to  change." 

Then  Bartlett  gave  his  opinion. 

*'If  I'd  knowed  how  she  was  goin'  to  turn  out,  I'd 
said  let's  make  her  about  a  hundred  tons,  an'  then 
there  wouldn't  be  the  need  of  foolin'  'round  this  'ere 
part  of  the  world  huntin'  after  a  schooner.  We 
might  have  had  just  what  we  wanted,  an'  not  been 
more'n  three  weeks  longer  on  the  work." 

Even  Winn  admired  the  result  of  their  handi- 
work, although  he  had  no  words  of  praise  just  then, 
perhaps  because  his  comrades  had  really  exhausted 
the  matter,  and  he  turned  the  subject  by  asking: 

*'When  are  we  going  to  start?" 

*'Just  as  soon  as  we  can  get  our  dunnage  aboard  of 
her,"  Joe  replied  promptly.  "I  reckon  the  Aymara 
treasure  will  answer  for  ballast,  an'  the  stores  are 
certain  to  make  up  as  much  of  a  cargo  as  we  can 
carry  comfortably.  We  must  work  lively,  too,  for 
once  the  wind  hauls  'round  it'll  be  a  case  of  leavin' 
the  harbor,  whether  we're  ready  or  not." 

'It's  time  to  turn  in,"  Bartlett  suggested.  "We'll 
get  supper,  sleep  as  much  as  we  can  'twixt  now  an' 
daylight,  an'  then  have  a  look  at  what  has  been 
buried  in  the  cave  so  long." 

* 'That's  my  idee^  too,"  said  Dave  Carleton. 

The  four  cast  admiring  glances  toward  the  pro- 


324    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

duct  of  their  handiwork,  much  as  though  saying 
"Good  night"  to  the  Httle  craft,  and  then  went  lei- 
surely to  the  cavern. 

The  "Fairhaven  Pride"  had  been  sloop-rigged 
while  on  the  ways;  her  canvas  was  neatly  stowed, 
and  every  rope  in  place  when  she  was  launched. 

The  one  thing  needed  was  an  anchor,  and  in  the 
absence  of  this  very  essential  portion  of  her  outfit, 
she  lay  moored  stem  and  stern  to  the  reefs  either  side 
of  the  cove. 

It  was  a  snug  berth  so  long  as  the  wind  held  from 
any  point  of  west,  but  once  the  breeze  came  from  an 
easterly  quarter  she  was  in  danger  of  beating  herself 
to  pieces  on  the  rocks,  and  none  knew  better  than  her 
builders  how  absolutely  necessary  it  was  they  should 
embark  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

When  they  left  the  shore  to  go  to  the  cave,  Winn 
believed  he  should  fall  asleep  almost  instantly  after 
supper  had  been  eaten,  because  of  the  fatigue  which 
beset  him,  but  in  this  he  was  mistaken. 

All  hands  aided  in  preparing  the  evening  meal, 
making  it  as  elaborate  as  the  contents  of  the  larder 
would  permit,  and  while  it  was  being  eaten  Dave 
Carleton  began  to  discuss  the  possibilities  of  the  voy- 
age they  were  so  soon  to  make,  which  conversation 
had  the  effect  of  driving  all  desire  for  sleep  from  the 
eyes  of  the  boy. 


SHIP-BUILDING.  325 

Nor  was  he  the  only  one  made  wakeful  by 
thoughts  of  the  near  future. 

Each  member  of  the  party  naturally  had  in  mind 
the  fact  that  should  they  succeed  in  returning  home 
he  would  be  wealthy  beyond  his  wildest  dreams.. 

With  this  knowledge  came  a  new  fear — that  some 
ill  fate  might  pursue  them,  and  the  treasure,  which 
had  been  the  cause  of  so  much  bloodshed,  might  yet 
provoke  more,  until  it  is  little  wonder  that  even 
though  weary  to  the  verge  of  exhaustion,  all  bodily 
weakness  was  forgotten. 

Joe,  when  the  meal  was  ended,  had  lain  down  near 
the  fire,  advising  the  others  to  follow  his  example. 

'Mf  we're  to  turn  out  before  daybreak,  there  won't 
be  any  too  much  time  to  bottle  up  the  sleep  that's 
needed." 

All  hands  did  as  he  proposed,  and  during  half  an 
hour  or  more  remained  recumbent  upon  the  sand; 
but  at  the  end  of  that  time  a  long-drawn  sigh  from 
Winn  was  heard,  and  Joe  asked : 

"Why  don't  you  go  to  sleep,  lad?" 

''I  can't,  an'  that's  a  fact.  What  with  thinking  of 
how  the  'Fairhaven  Pride'  will  behave  when  she's 
under  way,  or  whether  we  can  find  a  schooner  for 
sale  at  Port  Refuge,  an'  if  we'll  succeed  in  getting 
the  treasure  home,  my  eyes  are  open  as  wide  as  if  I 
had  just  wakened  after  a  twelve-hour  nap." 


326    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

'That's  the  kind  of  a  box  Vm  in,"  Dave  Carleton 
said  emphatically  as  he  arose  to  a  sitting  posture. 
"I  might  lay  here  till  mornin'  an'  never  come  nearer 
bein'  asleep  than  I  am  this  minute." 

Bartlett  sprang  to  his  feet. 

''Since  we  all  seem  to  be  in  about  the  same  shape, 
what's  the  use  of  layin'  idle?  There's  work  to-be 
done,  afi'  plenty  of  it,  for  no  man  can  say  how  long 
it's  safe  fc"  the  sloop  to  remain  in  the  cove.  Instead 
of  idlin'  away  the  time  in  this  useless  fashion,  why 
not  get  to  work  again  ?" 

"What  can  we  do  in  the  dark  ?"  Winn  asked. 

"Build  a  fire  on  the  other  side  an'  unearth  the 
treasure.  If  any  man  grows  sleepy  while  we're  at 
the  job,  let  him  lay  down;  but  them  as  can't  close 
their  eyes  keep  at  it,  an'  by  to-morrow  mornin'  we'll 
be  just  so  much  nearer  gettin'  under  way.  I've  been 
figgerin'  over  this  five-million-dollar  business,  an'  it 
strikes  me  it'll  take  a  good  many  trips  'twixt  here 
an'  the  cove  for  us  to  carry  down  that  much  money." 

"It  ain't  a  bad  idea,"  and  Joe  also  arose  to  his  feet. 
"As  you  say,  we  can  lay  down  whenever  we're  in- 
clined for  a  snooze,  an'  it'll  be  a  big  savin'  of  time." 

Winn  set  about  building  the  fire;  Bartlett  and 
Dave  went  to  the  cove  for  tools  with  which  to  dig, 
and  Joe  extinguished  the  embers  that  marked  the 
hiding-place  of  the  Aymara  treasure. 


SHIP-BUILDING.  327 

When  all  were  in  the  cavern  once  more,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  not  one  was  free  from  a  certain  nervous 
tremor  as  he  believed  this  wealth  of  the  Aymaras 
was  about  to  be  uncovered  for  the  second  time  in 
three-quarters  of  a  century,  Joe  outlined  the  method 
of  work. 

'There's  no  reason  why  we  should  do  any  more 
work  than's  necessary.  We'll  throw  up  this  'ere 
sand  toward  the  tunnel  that  leads  to  the  shore,  an'  if 
the  whole  passage  is  blocked  before  we  get  through 
it  won't  make  any  great  difference.  I'll  begin  here, 
push  it  back  as  far  as  I  can  reach ;  Dave  will  shove  it 
on  a  bit  further,  and  Bartlett  wind  up  the  job. 
Winn's  part  is  to  keep  the  fire  bright,  so  we  can  see 
what  we're  about." 

The  men  stationed  themselves  as  Joe  had  sug- 
gested, and  everything  was  in  readiness  for  the  be- 
ginning of  the  work,  yet  the  sailor  remained  motion- 
less. 

"Why  are  you  hangin'  fire?"  Dave  asked,  impa- 
tiently. ''You  don't  allow  it's  goin'  to  pop  right  out 
simply  because  you're  standin'  there  waitin'  to  see 
it,  eh?" 

"I'm  a  fool,  that's  what's  the  matter  with  me — a 
regular  old  maid.  Do  you  know,  mates,  there's  no 
more  strength  in  my  arms  this  minute  than  if  I  was 
a  baby." 


328    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

"What  has  come  over  you?" 

"I  can't  help  thinkin'  about  them  as  have  gone 
into  the  other  world  through  tryin'  to  get  hold  of 
this  'ere  treasure,  an'  here  we  are,  ready  to  dig  it  up 
with  nothin'  to  prevent.  It  seems  like  as  though 
something  must  happen  before  we  get  through  with 
the  job." 

''And  so  there  will,  if  you  don't  make  haste," 
Bartlett  cried,  impatiently.  'The  wind  will  come 
up  from  the  eastward,  the  'Fairhaven  Pride'  will  be 
knocked  about  on  the  reef  until  there  ain't  so  much 
left  of  her  as  you  could  put  in  your  eye,  and  we'll  be 
held  on  this  'ere  island  till  we  starve  to  death." 

Sharp  words  were  what  Joe  needed  to  clear  from 
his  brain  the  forebodings  which  had  momentarily 
unnerved  him,  and  in  another  instant  he  fell  to  work 
with  a  will. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  AYMARA  TREASURE. 

Even  had  the  work  of  unearthing  the  Aymara 
treasure  been  begun  in  the  dayHght,  there  would 
have  been  a  certain  feeUng  of  awe  in  Winn's  breast 
because  of  all  that  had  occurred  in  connection  with 
that  famous  hoard. 

Now,  however,  as  the  men  silently  commenced 
their  labors  in  the  glare  of  the  firelight,  their  shad- 
ows dancing  in  grotesque  fashion  on  the  white  wall 
opposite,  the  low  moaning  of  the  sea  without,  and 
the  flickering  of  the  flames  which  distorted  every 
object  in  the  chamber,  affected  him  much  more  seri- 
ously than  it  had  Joe  Savage. 

During  the  first  few  moments  of  the  work  he 
trembled  violently,  casting  frightened  glances  here 
and  there,  as  if  really  believing  the  cavern  might  be 
haunted  by  the  ghosts  of  those  who  had  given  up 
their  lives  while  protecting  or  while  unlawfully  try- 
ing to  gain  possession  of  the  treasure. 

During  five  minutes  or  more  no  one  spoke,  and  it 
seemed  to  Winn  as  if  it  was  necessary  he  should  hear  a 
human  voice,  otherwise  his  terror  would  become  too 
great  to  admit  of  his  remaining  in  the  chamber. 

329 


330     THE  TEEASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

In  fact,  more  than  once  was  he  tempted  to  flee 
from,  he  knew  not  what — to  go,  he  knew  not  where. 

Then  Joe  Savage  spoke,  and  never  had  the  sailor's 
voice  sounded  more  sweetly  to  the  nervous  boy's 
ears. 

"Petro  must  have  done  a  heap  of  work  in  the 
burying  of  this  'ere  gold.  I'm  down  a  couple  of  feet 
into  the  sand,  and  there's  no  sign  of  it  yet." 

"Are  you  certain  this  is  the  spot  where  he  told  you 
to  dig?"  Dave  asked  suddenly,  and  involuntarily 
pausing,  the  three  men  looked  at  each  other  in  dis- 
may. 

The  same  thought  was  in  the  mind  of  each. 

Suppose  Petro,  believing  it  necessary  for  the 
safety  of  the  treasure,  had  deceived  even  those  whom 
he  professed  to  trust?  Suppose,  instead  of  being 
concealed  in  the  chamber,  the  hoard  was  elsewhere 
on  the  island  ? 

In  such  case  a  lifetime  might  be  spent  in  vain 
search,  and  yet  they  had  at  their  disposal  no  more 
hours  than  the  wind  should  blow  from  the  westward. 

"See  here,  this  won't  do,  mates!"  Joe  said,  men- 
tally gathering  himself  together  with  an  effort. 
"It's  worse  than  foolishness,  standing  here  fearing 
old  Petro  deceived  us,  when  by  a  little  work  we'll 
sooli  know  the  truth.  This  'ere  sand  can't  be  of  any 
very  great  depth,  unless  he  carted  a  lot  in  from  the 


THE   AYMARA    TREASURE.  331 

shore,  and  that  the  old  man  never  would  have  done 
unless  he  had  a  precious  good  reason." 

The  labor  was  resumed,  and  now  that  there  had 
arisen  in  his  mind  a  doubt  as  to  whether  they  would 
find  the  treasure,  Winn  ceased  to  be  nervous  or  timid 
regarding  it. 

He  piled  the  wood  higher  upon  the  coals  until  it 
sent  forth  a  ruddy  blaze,  which,  reflected  by  the 
white  walls  of  the  cavern,  made  a  light  almost  as  at 
noon-day,  save  for  the  deep,  fantastic  shadows  cast 
by  the  workmen. 

Ten  minutes  more  were  spent  in  forcing  the  sand 
from  the  centre  of  the  chamber  into  the  eastern  tun- 
nel with  shovels  fashioned  from  bits  of  plank,  and 
nothing  had  been  found  to  indicate  that  the  wealth 
which  they  sought  was  hidden  there. 

Dave  Carleton  suddenly  ceased  his  labor,  and  in- 
stantly his  companions  followed  the  example. 

*Tt  don't  stand  to  reason  he  covered  this  'ere  cave 
with  four  feet  of  sand,  and  we're  down  as  deep  as 
that  now." 

"We  won't  doubt  the  old  man  yet  a  while,"  Joe 
said,  speaking  with  an  unsteady  voice.  'Tf  you  and 
me  was  to  bury  five  million  dollars,  Dave,  we'd  take 
precious  good  care  it  was  put  down  so  deep  that  the 
first  loafer  who  came  along  couldn't  kick  it  up." 

''Don't    stop    to   talk,"    Bartlett    said,    hoarsely. 


332    THE  TBEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAM). 

"Keep  on  with  the  work.  It  brings  a  cold  sweat  out 
on  me  just  thinkin'  we  may  be.  on  the  wrong  scent, 
an'  I  can't  stand  still  till  we  know  the  truth." 

Again  the  work  was  resumed,  and  this  time  Joe 
pushed  away  the  sand  with  feverish  energy,  as  if 
each  moment  was  of  vital  importance. 

Finally,  when  they  were  least  expecting  it,  the 
sailor  gave  vent  to  a  yell  which  awoke  all  the  echoes 
of  the  place,  as  he  fell  on  his  knees  and  began  dig- 
ging frantically  with  both  hands. 

"We  have  found  it,  lads!  We  have  found  it! 
Petro  didn't  deceive  us,  for  this  must  be  it !" 

The  two  men  and  Winn  had  run  at  the  first  outcry 
to  Joe's  side,  and  crowding  around  where  he 
crouched,  half  buried  in  the  excavation,  they  saw 
that  with  his  hands  he  had  cleared  away  the  sand 
from  the  head  of  a  small  oaken  cask. 

It  was  as  if  all  four  ceased  to  breathe  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  Dave  shouted  hysterically : 

"Up  with  it,  mate !  up  with  it !  Let's  make  cer- 
tain there's  really  gold  here !" 

Joe  tugged  and  strained  in  vain. 

Because  of  the  sand  which  had  lodged  around  it, 
filling  all  the  crevices  between  this  one  and,  as  was 
soon  ascertained,  several  others,  he  could  no  more 
have  lifted  it  out  unaided  than  he  could  have  forced 
in  the  walls  of  the  cavern  by  leaning  against  them. 


THE    AYMARA    TREASURE.  333 

*We  have  got  to  have  a  block  and  tackle  here, 
mates.  No  four  men  can  get  that  out  with  nothin' 
but  their  hands." 

'Tetro  must  have  put  it  in  alone." 

"Aye,  so  he  did.  He  had  only  to  roll  it  in,  but 
we  can't  pull  it  up  without  a  purchase  of  some  kind, 
unless  it  so  be  we  dig  away  the  sand  until  the  entire 
excavation  is  laid  bare.  You  an'  Bartlett  go  down 
to  the  cove,  Dave,  an'  bring  up  what'U  answer  our 
purpose.     Winn  an'  I'll  keep  on  with  the  diggin'." 

When  the  two  sailors  had  obeyed  it  was  literally 
impossible  for  Joe  and  the  boy  to  do  as  had  been 
promised. 

The  knowledge  that  they  had  really  come  upon 
the  treasure,  for  there  was  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
either  but  that  the  casks  contained  the  hoard  of  the 
Aymaras,  brought  with  it  such  extreme  agitation 
that  they  were  absolutely  helpless  in  their  weakness. 

''Of  course  these  casks  must  be  filled  with  gold," 
Winn  stammered. 

"Aye,  lad,  so  old  Manuel  said — gold  and  silver. 
It's  hard  to  believe  that  you,  a  boy  from  the  Fair- 
haven  poor-farm  and  me,  a  sailorman  as  has  thought 
himself  well  off  to  get  thirty  dollars  a  month  for 
leadin*  a  dog's  life,  should  be  sittin'  here  as  part 
owners  of  more  than  five  millions  of  money." 

"It  won't  do  us  much  good  until  we  get  it  away 


334    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

from  this  island,"  Winn  replied  with  a  hysterical 
laugh. 

'True  enough,  lad ;  but  it's  only  a  question  of  time 
now.  Once  we  get  this  aboard  the  'Fairhaven 
Pride'  it's  ours,  even  if  the  wind  comes  in  from  the 
eastward  five  minutes  later,  an'  before  we've  had 
time  to  put  the  provisions  aboard.     We'll  set  sail  an' 

take  chances  of  starvin'  rather  than I've  heard 

tell  of  men  goin'  money  mad,  an'  I  believe  that  kind 
of  a  fever's  getting  the  best  of  me  jest  now,"  Joe 
concluded,  with  a  dry  laugh.  ''We  must  hold  our-  * 
selves  in,  Winn,  for  we're  fast  gettin'  on  a  level  with 
Bart  Gerry,  who  was  willin'  to  give  up  his  soul  for 
what's  comin'  to  us  so  easy." 

Then  the  two  stared  at  each  other  in  silence  until 
the  footsteps  and  conversation  of  the  men  as  they  re- 
turned with  the  block  and  tackle  broke  the  spell 
which  bound  them,  and  instantly  they  were  cool,  cal- 
culating workmen  once  more. 

Three  short  fragments  of  spars  were  also  brought 
to  serve  as  a  derrick,  and  when  the  tackle  had  been 
put  in  position  it  was  a  simple  matter  to  raise  the 
•first  cask  from  its  resting-place. 

The  weight  told  that  it  must  be  filled  with  some 
metal  as  heavy  as  gold ;  but  this  was  not  of  sufiicient 
assurance  for  the  guardians  of  the  treasure. 

The  head  of  the  cask  was  knocked  in,  and  the  four 


THE    AYMARA    TREASURE.  335 

stood  around  it  speechless,  gazing  at  the  ingots  of 
dull  yellow. 

Like  one  beside  himself,  Joe  threw  these  out, 
uttering  short,  sharp  cries  as  of  frenzy,  until  the 
white  sand  which  formed  the  floor  of  the  cavern  was 
covered  with  ingots,  loose  coin  or  vessels  of  various 
shapes,  all  of  the  same  precious  metal. 

Then,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  every  moment  of 
time  must  be  utilized  if  they  would  save  this  hoard, 
the  four  gave  themselves  wholly  up  to  that  delirium 
which  the  sudden  acquisition  of  gold  oftentimes 
brings. 

Bartlett  played  with  the  ingots  as  a  child  might 
with  pebbles ;  Dave  stacked  the  coins  up  one  by  one 
until  they  toppled  over  with  a  clinking  sound,  which 
caused  him  to  laugh  again  and  again.  Winn  placed 
the  oddly  shaped  vessels  side  by  side,  admiring  each 
in  turn,  and  tapping  them  with  his  pocket  knife  to 
make  certain  they  gave  forth  the  true  ring,  while  Joe 
moved  to  and  fro  unsteadily,  now  plunging  his  arms 
to  the  elbows  amid  the  ingots,  and  again  drinking 
deep  draughts  of  water  from  one  of  the  vessels. 

It  was  a  scene  which  had  in  it  a  most  serious  les- 
son, but  none  who  took  part  read  aught  therein. 

They  only  knew  that  here  was  that  which  would 
enrich  them  in  this  world's  goods  far  beyond  any 
previous  desire,  and  for  the  moment  it  was  sufficient. 


336     THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

*Winn  was  the  first  to  regain  his  senses,  and  he 
aroused  the  others  to  a  thorough  understanding  by- 
saying  sharply : 

''If  we're  going  to  play  with  this  gold  all  night, 
it'll  be  a  mighty  poor  way  of  spending  the  time, 
when  no  one  knows  how  soon  we  may  have  to  leave 
the  island.  There  will  be  a  chance  to  make  fools  of 
ourselves  after  we're  on  board  the  'Fairhaven  Pride,' 
heading  for  Port  Refuge." 

"You're  right,  lad,"  Joe  replied,  gravely.  ''We've 
shown  ourselves  to  be  worse  than  fools,  and  it's  time 
we  stood  'round  on  the  other  tack.  Brace  up  lively, 
boys;  we'll  put  back  everything,  save  the  coin,  that 
we'll  need  to  pay  for  the  schooner  we  count  on 
buyin',  and  then  set  about  gettin'  the  rest  of  the  casks 
out.  Only  two  can  work  to  advantage  here,  but  the 
others  can  be  rollin'  the  stuff  down  to  the  cove.  I 
shall  feel  easier  in  mind  when  it's  stored  in  the 
sloop's  hold." 

His  tone  as  much  as  his  words  had  the  effect  of 
sobering  Bartlett  and  Dave,  and  five  minutes  later 
all  traces  of  excitement  had  vanished  as  the  work  of 
transferring  the  Aymara  treasure  was  really  begun. 

All  hands  were  now  working  with  a  will. 

When  the  second  cask  had  been  hoisted  out  Bart- 
lett began  to  roll  it  to  the  cove. 

The  first  one  Dave  took  charge  of,  and  the  work 


THE    AYMARA    TREASURE.  337 

was  carried  on  until  the  last  of  the  precious  packages 
had  been  taken  from  the  cavern. 

During  all  this  while  no  one  so  much  as  thought 
of  the  passage  of  time,  and  not  until  the  entire  hoard 
was  stowed  as  ballast  in  the  hold  of  the  'Tairhaven 
Pride"  did  they  realize  that  the  night  had  passed  and 
another  day  had  been  half  spent  in  this  labor. 

"If  anybody'd  said  Fd  ever  have  so  much  money 
as  would  make  me  forget  to  go  to  sleep,  or  eat  break- 
fast, or  feel  hungry  for  dinner,  I'd  have  called  him  a 
bloomin'  liar,"  Joe  exclaimed  when  he  realized  how 
many  hours  had  been  spent  in  the  transferring  of  the 
hoard.  "I  don't  know  whether  it's  the  handlin'  of 
so  much  gold,  or  the  thought  that  I'm  what  you  can 
call  a  rich  man  that  has  put  me  in  this  condition ;  but, 
to  tell  the  truth,  mates,  I  never'd  know  from  my  own 
feelin'  that  I  hadn't  been  asleep." 

"I  allow  there  ain't  a  man  in  the  world  what's  so 
cold-blooded  that  he  wouldn't  be  knocked  out  of  his 
reckonin'  by  going  through  what .  we've  been 
through  with  since  last  night,"  Bartlett  added.  "I 
tell  you,  mates,  I've  been  uneasy  to  get  away  ever 
since  we  landed  on  this  'ere  island ;  but  all  I've  felt 
up  to  this  time  isn't  any  more'n  a  notion  compared 
with  what's  struck  me  now.  I  believe  I'd  go  nigh 
crazy  if  I  slept  in  that  cave  again.  What  say  to 
shippin'  the  provisions  'twixt  now  an'  sunrise  an' 


338    THE  TEEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

turnin'  in  aboard?  Then,  if  the  wind  comes  up,  it's 
only  a  quevStion  of  slippin'  cables,  an'  we're  off,  walk- 
in'  the  decks  with  the  Aymara  treasure  just  below 
our  feet." 

'Tt  can  be  done,"  Joe  said,  thoughtfully,  "for  I 
allow  'twixt  now  an'  sunset  we'll  put  aboard  all 
that's  worth  carrying  away.  It's  mighty  lucky  we 
saved  the  dory,  mates;  for  if  we'd  had  to  raft  the 
gold  out  from  the  shore  it  wouldn't  be  aboard  yet." 

"That's  so,"  said  Bartlett. 

"Never  mind  the  figuring  on  that,"  Winn  said, 
impatiently.  "Let's  provision  the  sloop.  I'm  will- 
in'  to  work  until  to-morrow  morning  rather  than 
knock  off  again  before  it's  finished." 

"An'  I  allow  we're  gettin'  just  as  crazy  now  as 
when  we  first  saw  the  gold,"  Dave  interrupted. 
"Not  one  of  us  has  had  so  much  as  a  bite  since  last 
night,  an'  it'll  only  be  treating  our  bodies  right  to 
hold  on  long  enough  for  dinner." 

"Winn  can  build  a  fire  on  shore  and  cook  what- 
ever comes  handiest,  while  we  keep  on  with  the 
work,"  Joe  replied,  and  to  this  his  comrades  agreed. 

Probably  there  had  never  been  such  a  scene  of  ac- 
tivity on  the  shores  of  the  cove. 

Nearby,  covered  with  canvas  saved  from  the 
wrecks,  was  a  large  store  of  provisions  which  Joe 
and  Bartlett  began  loading  into  the  dory  for  ship- 


THE    AYMARA    TREASURE.  339 

ment  to  the  sloop,  while  Dave  traveled  back  and 
forth  between  the  cave  and  the  shore,  bringing  from 
their  old  place  of  refuge  such  of  the  cooking  utensils 
as  it  was  deemed  best  to  carry  away. 

The  sun  was  not  more  than  two  hours  high  when 
Winn  summoned  his  comrades  to  dinner,  and  the 
time  spent  in  eating  the  meal  was  sufficient  to  enable 
the  laborers  to  realize  how  thoroughly  fatigued  they 
were. 

Bartlett,  who  had  claimed  that  he  could  not  sleep 
on  the  island  another  night,  proposed  that  they 
*'knock  off  until  morning"  rather  than  continue 
while  he  was  so  completely  ''used  up,"  and  Dave 
seemed  disposed  to  agree  to  this  proposal  until  Joe 
said  sharply : 

"Now,  see  here,  mates,  it's  a  matter  of  four  or  five 
hours  more,  an'  the  work  will  be  done.  Then, 
knowing  we're  ready  to  leave  our  moorin'  at  any 
minute  we  can  go  to  sleep,  feelin'  that  things  are 
ship-shape  for  the  cruise  which  we'll  hope  ends  only 
when  we  drop  anchor  in  Fairhaven  Bay.  I  ain't 
sayin'  as  there's  any  good  cause  for  believin'  the 
wind  won't  hold  westerin'  a  good  while  longer;  but 
why  take  chances  when  we've  got  so  near  through 
with  the  job  ?  I'm  fagged  out,  an'  no  mistake ;  but 
it  ain't  goin'  to  kill  me  to  keep  movin'  from  now  till 
sunset." 


340    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

Winn  shared  this  opinion,  and  once  more  the  ar- 
duous labor  was  resumed. 

Not  until  the  last  barrel  of  ship's  bread  had  been 
put  on  board;  two  beef  casks  emptied  of  their  con- 
tents, rinsed  thoroughly,  filled  with  water,  and 
lashed  to  the  decks  amidships — not  until  then  did 
the  guardians  of  the  Aymara  treasure  cease  their 
labors,  and,  wearied  almost  to  the  verge  of  exhaus- 
tion, each  threw  himself  upon  the  deck,  heedless  alike 
of  the  dews  of  the  night  and  the  hardness  of  the  bed, 
in  his  desire  for  slumber. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

THE  HOME  PORT. 

The  sun  awakened  the  crew  of  the  "Fairhaven 
Pride"  next  morning,  but  not  until  he  was  fully 
above  the  eastern  horizon,  and  then  it  was  they  real- 
ized how  severe  had  been  their  exertions  during  the 
past  twenty-four  hours. 

Stiff  and  sore  in  every  joint,  Winn  began  over- 
hauling the  stores,  for  there  was  little  to  do  in  this 
work  of  preparing  breakfast,  save  set  out  the  provi- 
sions, since,  although  laden  with  gold,  the  sloop  did 
not  so  much  as  boast  of  the  smallest  cook-stove. 

''A  pannikin  of  coffee  is  what  we  most  need  now," 
Joe  said,  after  watching  the  boy  a  few  seconds. 
"An'  seein's  how  there's  nothin'  to  prevent,  suppose 
we  pull  ashore  for  breakfast?  It's  likely  to  be  the 
last  warm  meal  we'll  have  this  side  of  Keeling  Isl- 
and." 

Bartlett  showed  that  he  approved  of  the  plan  by 
at  once  loading  into  the  dory  such  utensils  and  stores 
as  would  be  needed  in  the  preparation  of  the  meal, 
and  shortly  afterward  the  little  party,  seated  on  the 

341 


343    THE  TKEASUKE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

sand,  were  partaking  of  the  last  breakfast  they  were 
likely  ever  to  eat  on  Cocos  Island. 

Then  came  the  question  as  to  whether  they  should 
set  sail  at  once  or  wait  until  the  breeze  had  fresh- 
ened, when  the  run  could  be  made  more  quickly. 

Time  was  of  considerable  importance  in  the  navi- 
gation of  the  sloop,  for  they  had  not  so  much  as  a 
compass,  and  after  Cocos  should  be  lost  to  view  it 
would  be  necessary  to  sail  by  guess-work. 

"I  go  in  for  leavin'  this  bloomin'  place  as  soon  as 
we  can  cast  off  the  hawsers,"  Dave  Carleton  said, 
decidedly.  "If  you're  certain  whereabouts  Keeling 
lays,  we  ought  to  be  sailormen  enough  to  keep  the 
points  of  the  compass  in  our  heads  for  four  an' 
twenty  hours,  by  which  time,  accbrdin'  to  your  reck- 
onin',  we  should  make  the  land." 

"I'll  go  bail  that  I've  got  a  picture  of  the  chart  in 
my  eye  this  blessed  minute,  an'  it  would  be  strange  if 
it  wasn't  there,  seein's  how  I  studied  over  the  course 
nigh  on  to  two  days  before  leavin'  the  schooner," 
Joe  replied.  "We  can't  have  everything  to  please 
us,  though  it  would  help  along  wonderfully  if  the 
wind  was  a  little  stronger ;  but  s'posen  we  wait  till  a 
gale  blows  up  ?     What  then  ?" 

"Wouldn't  the  sloop  weather  it  ?"  Winn  asked. 

"Aye,  lad,  she'd  do  that  stoutly  enough;  but  we 
mightn't  be  able  to  keep  our  reckonin',  so  perhaps 


THE    HOME    PORT.  343 

the  best  we  can  do  is  to  agree  with  Dave,  an'  sHp  our 
cables  as  soon  as  we  get  on  board." 

Not  one  of  the  party  felt  inclined  to  linger  in  this 
port,  although  they  had  entered  it  poor  in  purse  and 
were  leaving  it  with  a  vast  amount  of  wealth. 

Therefore  the  voyage  was  begun  without  delay. 

The  three  men  cheered  loudly  when  the  ''Fair- 
haven  Pride,"  with  all  her  sails  set — two  jibs,  main- 
sail and  a  rude  topsail — glided  gently  out  of  the 
cove ;  but  Winn  was  silent. 

The  memories  which  insisted  on  having  a  place  in 
his  mind  at  this  moment  caused  a  feeling  of  sadness 
rather  than  of  triumph. 

''Pull  yourself  together,  lad !"  Joe  cried,  cheerily, 
as  he  noted  the  look  on  the  boy's  face.  "This  is  a 
time  when  all  of  us  should  be  feelin'  mighty  good, 
for  we've  got  out  of  as  tight  a  fix  as  sailormen  ever 
ran  into,  an'  in  such  shape  as  didn't  seem  possible 
even  on  the  day  we  left  Fairhaven." 

"I  couldn't  help  thinking  of  Manuel,  of  Petro, 
and  the  wrecks,"  Winn  said,  half  apologetically. 

"This  is  the  time  when  you  should  be  chewin'  over 
somethin'  pleasant.  Watch  this  'ere  bloomin'  sloop, 
an'  if  that  don't  make  you  feel  good,  I  don't  know 
what  will.  Why,  my  boy,  she's  a  reg'lar  clipper,  an' 
I'd  like  to  see  them  as  could  build  a  better  one  with 
the  same  tools  an'  timbers  we  had.     It's  a  shame  to 


344    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

think  of  abandonin'  a  craft  like  this  an*  puttin'  out 
good  money  for  one  that  most  Hkely  can't  sail  half  a^ 
fast/' 

*'Do  you  believe  this  sloop  would  stand  a  voyage 
around  the  Horn?"  Winn  asked,  thus  showing  that 
the  sad  current  of  his  thoughts  had  been  changed. 

Joe  shook  his  head. 

"Well,  lad,  Fm  not  so  bloomin'  certain  of  that. 
If  it  wasn't  for  the  sake  of  sailin'  into  Fairhaven 
harbor  on  board  our  own  vessel,  I'd  say  we  could 
make  San  Francisco  harbor  in  her." 

"But  what  could  we  do  with  the  treasure?" 

"Turn  it  into  cash,  which  can  be  carried  easier,  an' 
that's  a  port  where  it  could  be  done  in  great  shape, 
for  a  few  millions  in  gold  an'  silver  don't  cut  any 
great  figger  there,  while  Fm  allowin'  it  will  make 
considerable  of  a  stir  in  New  York." 

"Then  why  not  do  as  you  say  ?" 

"It's  like  this,  lad ;  I've  elected  myself  captain  of 
the  party,  so  to  speak,  though  I  don't  allow  to  do  any 
great  amount  of  bossin',  an'  it'll  be  worth  almost  as 
much  as  my  share  of  the  treasure  to  sail  into  Fair- 
haven  on  board  a  craft  I  own.  Then  again,  we've 
got  to  call  into  Venezuela  to  find  Telceda's  crowd,  so 
I  reckon  we'd  best  keep  her  headed  for  Keeling." 

It  was  destined  that  the  first  and  only  cruise  which 
the  guardians  of  the  treasure  were  to  take  in  a  craft 


THE    HOME    PORT.  345 

of  their  own  making  was  to  be  short  and  free  from 
excitement. 

Had  the  sloop's  crew  been  able  to  command  the 
weather,  they  could  have  had  no  more  favoring 
breeze. 

During  the  following  forenoon  they  sailed  into  the 
harbor  of  Port  Refuge,  Dave  Carleton  regretting 
most  sincerely  the  absence  of  flags. 

"This  is  the  time  when  the  sloop  ought  to  be 
dressed  from  truck  to  rail,  an'  then  we'd  stand  the 
chance  of  cuttin'  a  dash  in  this  'ere  settlement." 

"Which  is  jest  what  we  don't  want  to  do,"  Bart- 
lett  replied.  Accordin'  to  my  way  of  thinkin',  we'd 
best  sneak  in  an'  out  without  attractin'  too  much  at- 
tention, for  if  it  was  known  what  kind  of  a  cargo 
we're  carryin',  Pm  thinkin'  we  wouldn't  hold  posses- 
sion of  it  many  hours.  Better  get  an  anchor  an'  a 
cook-stove  before  we  feel  bad  'bout  not  bein*  able  to 
spread  ourselves. 

In  the  absence  of  the  first-named  article,  if  was 
necessary  the  sloop  be  run  as  near  the  shore  as  was 
safe,  and  then  brought  up  into  the  wind,  when  Joe, 
his  pockets  well  lined  with  gold  pieces,  went  ashore 
in  the  dory  to  purchase  that  which  was  so  sadly 
needed. 

The  little  craft  stood  off  and  on  until  an  hour 
later,  when  the  self-elected  captain  reappeared,  ac- 


346    THE  TREASUEE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

companied  by  three  porters,  who  staggered  under 
their  heavy  burden. 

"It  ain't  very  much  of  an  anchor  he's  got,  if  three 
men  can  carry  it,"  Dave  grumbled,  and  Bartlett  re- 
minded him  that  it  would  answer  as  a  mooring  for 
the  sloop  during  fair  weather. 

''It  ain't  sich  a  terrible  easy  matter  to  pick  up 
ship's  stores  in  a  port  like  this,"  Joe  said  as  he  pulled 
alongside.  "I've  got  a  kedge  that'll  serve  till 
mornin'  I  reckon,  an'  I'm  promised  somethin'  better 
then." 

"Did  you  happen  to  ask  if  there  was  any  show  for 
buy  in' a  schooner  ?" 

"I  did,  my  hearty,  an'  found  that  by  lay  in'  here  a 
week  or  two  we're  likely  to  get  what'll  suit  us. 
Three  hundred  tons — eight  years  old — Ai  condition, 
an'  off  on  a  tradin'  voyage  now." 

"What's  the  price?" 

"They're  askin'  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  but  I 
don't  allow  that  cuts  any  very  great  figger  with  men 
like  us." 

When  the  sloop  had  been  moored  the  self-elected 
captain  offered  to  stand  watch  while  his  comrades 
went  on  shore ;  but  no  one  accepted  the  proposition. 
^  They  had  had  quite  enough  of  the  land  for  the 
time  being,  and  their  one  desire  was  to  be  afloat, 
homeward  bound. 


THE    HOME    PORT.  347 

Before  the  day  had  come  to  an  end  a  stove  was 
set  up  in  the  cabin  of  the  sloop,  a  certain  amount  of 
bedding  brought  on  board,  and  a  most  bountiful  sup- 
ply of  fresh  meat  and  fruit  purchased. 

"There's  no  need  of  our  goin'  hungry  or  lackin' 
anything  we  take  a  fancy  to,"  Joe,  who  had  acted  as 
steward,  said  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction.  "We'll  have 
an  anchor  out  here  by  to-morrow  noon  that  will  hold 
us,  no  matter  what  weather  comes,  and  now  we  may 
as  well  take  things  comfortable-like.  If  anybody 
wants  to  go  ashore,  all  right,  'cause  this  'ere  crew  is 
bound  to  do  as  they  please,  except  that  one  of  us 
must  be  on  watch  all  the  time." 

The  ten  days  which  followed  were  not  spent  as 
enjoyably  as  would  have  been  the  case  under  other 
circumstances. 

There  v/as  nothing  to  disturb  the  guardians  of  the 
treasure  in  any  way,  and  much  of  interest  might 
have  been  seen  on  the  island,  but  for  the  fact  that  no 
one  was  willing  to  leave  the  treasure-laden  sloo'p, 
save  during  brief  intervals. 

Then  they  awakened  one  morning  to  find  the  good 
schooner  "Petrel"  anchored  not  more  than  half  a 
cable's  length  away,  and  Joe  pointed  her  out  as  the 
one  he  had  proposed  to  purchase. 

"Better  make  the  trade  as  soon  as  you  can,"  Dave 
Carleton  said,  after  eyeing  her  critically.     "She'll 


348    THE  TKEASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

answer  us  to  a  dot,  an'  we  couldn't  ask  for  any- 
thing better." 

Four  days  later  the  purchase  was  made,  and  Joe, 
who  had  represented  himself  as  one  of  a  shipwrecked 
crew  which  had  been  cast  ashore  on  Cocos  Island, 
had  no  little  difficulty  in  explaining  how  it  was  he 
chanced  to  be  in  possession  of  so  many  Spanish  gold 
pieces,  coined  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  century. 

"The  owners  put  the  question  to  me  point  blank," 
he  said  when  describing  the  interview.  "1  began  to 
be  afraid  they'd  find  out  more  than  it  might  be  con- 
venient for  them  to  know." 

''How  did  you  answer  their  questions?" 

Joe  smiled  knowingly. 

'T  didn't.  I  says  to  'em,  says  I,  'Here's  your 
cash,  an'  it's  all  in  gold  pieces.  If  you  don't  want 
'em,  say  the  word,  an'  we'll  put  for  some  other  port 
where  they're  willin'  to  sell  a  vessel  without  wantin' 
to  know  the  pedigree  of  the  men  what  buys  her.' 
That  made  'em  draw  in  their  horns,  an'  then  they 
begun  a  lot  of  soft  palaverin'  to  worm  the  secret  out  of 
me;  but  all  I  did  was  to  say,  Tf  you  don't  want  the 
gold,  we'll  end  this  bargainin'  mighty  quick.'  The 
'Petrel'  is  held  now  by  us  four  in  our  own  proper 
names,  an'  the  papers  will  be  made  out  as  soon  as 
may  be.  I  reckon,  however,  I'll  have  another  tussle 
with  them  chaps  before  the  business  is  finished,  for 


THE    HOME    PORT.  349 

it  stands  to  reason  they're  beginnin'  to  have  an 
inkHn'  of  the  truth." 

And  Joe  did  have  a  ''tussle." 

The  former  owners  of  the  'Tetrel"  plied  him  with 
questions  regarding  the  gold,  offering  almost  every 
inducement  if  he  would  tell  them  whence  it  came. 
But  all  to  no  purpose. 

He  was  willing  to  talk  with  them  on  matters  per- 
taining to  the  sea,  but  instantly  the  conversation 
turned  to  Spanish  coins  his  mouth  was  closed,  nor 
would  he  so  much  as  offer  the  slightest  explanation 
as  to  how  the  gold  had  come  into  his  possession. 

The  secret  was  safe  with  Joe. 

When  all  the  necessary  formalities  had  been  com- 
plied with  the  'Tairhaven  Pride"  was  hauled  along- 
side the  "Petrel,"  and  during  the  day  Joe  and  his 
crew  made  a  great  show  of  transferring  their  stores 
of  provisions  to  the  schooner. 

It  was  not  until  nightfall,  however,  that  the  treas- 
ure was  disturbed,  and  then,  after  making  certain 
there  were  no  curious  ones  in  the  vicinity,  the  four 
set  about  removing  their  precious  cargo. 

When  the  sun  rose  again  it  was  stowed  snugly  be- 
neath the  stores  of  spare  canvas  and  rope. 

A  plentiful  supply  of  provisions  was  taken  on 
board,  and  then  came  the  question  of  how  the 
''Petrel"  could    be  navigated   when    none    of  her 


350    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

owners  had  any  save  the  most  cursory  knowledge  of 
that  art. 

It  was  absolutely  essential  an  experienced  master 
be  engaged,  one  who  would  sail  the  vessel  under 
Joe's  direction,  and  such  a  man  was  at  hand  in  the 
person  of  the  first  mate  of  a  whaling-ship,  who, 
three  months  before,  had  come  ashore,  the  sole  sur- 
vivor of  his  crew. 

He  offered  to  navigate  the  'Tetrel"  without 
wages,  in  order  to  reach  his  home;  but  to  this  Joe 
would  not  listen. 

''You  will  take  master's  pay  or  stay  where  you 
are,  so  far  as  we're  concerned.  All  we  want  is  that 
you  put  the  schooner  first  off  the  coast  of  Venezuela, 
an'  then  into  Fairhaven  harbor  without  workin' 
yourself  up  to  a  fit  'cause  we  don't  feel  called  upon  to 
explain  everything  about  ourselves." 

That  settled  the  matter. 

The  master  was  the  only  addition  made  to  the 
crew,  and  it  is  possible  to  fill  as  many  pages  as  have 
already  been  given  to  the  story  of  the  treasure  of 
Cocos  Island,  in  relating  the  incidents  of  the  home- 
ward voyage ;  but  it  would  be  simply  a  sequel  to  the 
main  purpose  of  this  tale. 

Suffice  it  to  say  that  in  due  time  the  schooner 
'Tetrel"  was  brought  to  an  anchorage  off  Cuman, 
where  Manuel  had  met  the  syrvivors  of  his  people, 


THE    HOME    POET.  351 

and  there  was  the  treasure  divided  according  to  the 
directions  he  had  already  given. 

Winn  was  the  one  delegated  to  meet  these  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Aymara  race,  and  to  his  surprise 
the  business  did  not  prove  to  be  difficult. 

Once  the  schooner  was  brought  to  an  anchor  a 
canoe  put  off  from  the  shore,  and  the  crew  of  the 
'Tetrel"  heard  the  name  ''Manuel  Telceda"  called 
softly  as  the  light  craft  circled  around  the  vessel. 

After  this  it  was  a  simple  task  to  make  known 
their  business,  and  within  two  hours  the  guardians 
of  the  treasure  were  on  shore  in  consultation  with  the 
relatives  of  Manuel  and  Petro. 

The  four  descendants  whom  Telceda  had  met 
were  yet  alive,  and  on  being  told  how  he  proposed 
to  divide  the  treasure,  insisted  it  should  be  done  ex- 
actly as  he  suggested. 

For  certain  reasons,  chiefest  among  which  is  the 
fact  that  both  Joe  and  Winn  object  to  have  the 
amount  of  their  wealth  made  public,  it  is  not  well  to 
state  all  the  particulars  of  this  division. 

It  is  enough  to  say  that  when  the  four  owners  of 
the  ''Petrel"  sailed  into  Fairhaven  harbor  each  was 
the  owner  of  more  silver  and  gold  than  he  had  ever 
believed  any  one  person  could  amass,  and,  as  may 
not  be  truthfully  said  of  some  large  fortunes,  it  was 
all  come  by  honestly.      ^ 


35»    THE  TREASURE  OF  COCOS  ISLAND. 

How  Winn  and  his  companions  employed  this 
vast  wealth  cannot  be  related  here,  but  at  some 
future  time,  if  the  readers  so  elect,  a  faithful  account 
shall  be  given  of  what  befell  the  four  partners  after 
they  had  brought  home  the  treasure  from  Cocos 
Island. 


[the  end.] 


A*  L.  Burt's  Catalogue  of  Books  for 
Young  People  by  Popular  Writers,  52- 
58  Duane  Street,  New  York   .^    n^    n< 


BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Joe's  Luck:     A  Boy^s  Adventures  in  California.    By 

Horatio  Algbr,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

The  storj-  is  chock  fall  of  stirring  Incidents,  while  the  amusing  situ- 
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fellow  who  modestly  styles  himself  the  "Rip-tail  Roarer,  from  Pike  Co., 
Missouri."  Mr.  Alger  never  writes  a  poor  book,  and  "Joe's  Luck"  is  cer- 
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Tom  the   Bootblack;  or,   The   Eoad   to   Success.     By 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

A  bright,  enterprising  lad  was  Tom  the  Bootblack.  He  was  not  at  alJ 
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Grey,  the  uncle,  did  not  hesitate  to  employ  a  ruflSan  to  kill  the  lad.  The 
plan  fulled,  and  Gilbert  Grey,  once  Tom  the  bootblack,  came  into  a  com- 
fortable  fortune.     This   is  one   of   Mr.    Alger's   best   stories. 

Dan  the  Newsboy.    By   Horatio   Alger,   Jr.    12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Dan  Mordaunt  and  his  mother  live  In  a  poor  tenement,  and  the  lad  Is 
pluckily  trying  to  make  ends  meet  by  selling  papers  in  the  streets  of  New 
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Tony  the  Hero:     A    Brave    Boy's    Adventure  with  a 

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Tony,  a  sturdy  bright-eyed  boy  of  fourteen,  Is  under  th^  control  of 
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is    prosperous,     A    very    entertaining    book. 

The  Errand  Boy;  or,  How  Phil  Brent  Won  Success. 

By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

The  career  of  "The  Errand  Boy"  embraces  the  city  adventures  of  a 
smart  country  lad.  Philip  was  brought  up  by  a  kind-hearted  innkeeper 
named  Brent.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Brent  paved  the  way  for  the  hero's 
subsequent  troubles.  A  retired  merchant  in  New  York  secures  him  the 
situation   of   errand    boy,    and   thereafter    stands   as   his   friend. 

Tom  Temple'is  Career.     By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.     12mo, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Tom  Temple  is  a  bright,  self-reliant  lad.  He  leaves  Plympton  village 
to  seek  work  in  New  York,  whence  he  undertakes  an  Important  mission 
to  California.  Some  of  his  adventures  in  the  far  west  are  so  startling  that 
the  reader  will  scarcely  close  the  book  until  the  last  page  shall  have  been 
reached.     The  tale  is  written  in  Mr.  Alger's  most  fascinating  style. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUST,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  XQxh 


2  A.  L.  BURT^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Frank  Fowler,  the  Cash  Boy.     By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 

32mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Frank  Fowler,  a  poor  boy,  bravely  determines  to  make  a  living  for 
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situation  as  cash  boy  in  a  dry  goods  store.  He  renders  a  service  to  a 
wealthy  old  gentleman  who  takes  a  fancy  to  the  lad,  and  thereafter 
helps    the    lad    to   gain    success    and    fortune. 

Tom  Thatcher's    Fortune.     By    Horatio    Alger^  Jr. 

12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  SLOG. 

Tom  Thatcher  is  a  brave,  ambitious,  unselfish  boy.  He  supports  his 
mother  and  sister  on  meagre  wages  earned  as  a  shoe-pegger  in  John 
Simpson's  factory.  Tom  is  discharged  from  the  factory  and  starts  over- 
land for  California.  He  meets  with  many  adventures.  The  story  is  told 
in  a  way  which  has  made  Mr.  Alger's  name  a  household  word  in  so  many 
homes. 

The  Train    Boy.     By    Horatio    Alger,    Jr.     12ino, 

cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Paul  Palmer  was  a  wide-awake  boy  of  sixteen  who  supported  his  mother 
and  sister  by  selling  books  and  papers  on  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
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young  lady.  In  a  railway  accident  many  passengers  are  killed,  but  Paul 
Is  fortunate  enough  to  assist  a  Chicago  merchant,  who  out  of  gratitude 
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is  well   started   on   the   road   to   business   prominence. 

Mark  Mason's  Victory.     The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of 

a  Telegraph  Boy.    By  Horatio  Ai/>er,  Jb.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

$1.00. 

Mark  Mason,  the  telegraph  boy,  was  a  sturdy,  honest  lad,  who  plucklly 
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Mr.    Alger  as   a   favorite   author. 

A  Debt  of  Honor.     The  Story  of  Gerald  Lane's  Success 

in  the  Far  West.    By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.     12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price 

551.00. 

The  story  of  Gerald  Lane  and  the  account  of  the  many  trials  and  dis- 
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Ben  Bruce.     Scenes  in  the  Life  of  a  Bowery  Newsboy. 

By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Ben  Bruce  was  a  brave,  manly,  generous  boy.  The  story  of  his  efforts, 
and  many  seeming  failures  and  disappointments,  and  his  final  success,  are 
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most  fascinating  style. 

The  Castaways;  or,  On  the  Florida  Eeefs.     By  James 

Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  tale  smacks  of  the  salt  sea.  From  the  moment  that  the  Sea 
Queen  leaves  lower  New  York  bay  till  the  breezfe  leaves  her  becalmed  off 
the  coast  of  Florida,  one  can  almost  hear  the  whistle  of  the  wind 
through  her  rigging,  the  creak  of  her  straining  cordage  as  she  heels  to 
the  leeward.  The  adventures  of  Ben  Clark,  the  hero  of  the  story  and 
Jake  the  cook,  cannot  fail  to  charm  the  reader.  As  a  writer  for  young 
people   Mr.    Otis   is    a    prime    favorite. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  th© 
publisher,  A,  L.  BUST,  52-58  Duane  Street,  Ifew  York. 


A.  L.  BURT^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 


BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

Wrecked  on  Spider  Island ;  or,  How  Ned  Rogers  Found 

the  Treasure.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Ned  Rogers,  a  "down-east"  plucky  lad  ships  as  cabin  boy  to  earn 
a  livelihood.  Ned  is  marooned  on  Spider  Island,  and  while  there  dis- 
cove«B  a  wreck  submerged  In  the  sand,  and  finds  a  considerable  amount 
of  treasure.  The  capture  of  the  treasure  and  the  incidents  of  the 
voyage  serve  to  make  as  entertaining  a  story  of  sea-life  as  the  most 
captious    boy    could    desire. 

The  Search  for  the  Silver  City :  A  Tale  of  Adventure  in 

Yucatan.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Two  lads,  Teddy  Wright  and  Neal  Emery,  embark  on  the  steam 
yacht  Day  Dream  for  a  cruise  to  the  tropics.  The  yacht  is  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  then  the  boat  is  cast  upon  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  They 
bear  of  the  wonderful  Silver  City,  of  the  Chan  Santa  Cruz  Indians, 
and  with  the  help  of  a  faithful  Indian  ally  carry  off  a  number  of  the 
golden  images  from  the  temples.  Pursued  with  relentless  vigor  at  last 
their  escape  is  effected  in  an  astonishing  manner.  The  story  is  so 
full  of  exciting  incidents  that  the  reader  is  quite  carried  away  with 
the   novelty   and    realism   of   the   narrative. 

A    Runaway    Brig;  or.    An    Accidental    Cruise.      By 

James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  is  a  sea  tale,  and  the  reader  can  look  out  upon  the  wide  shimmer- 
ing sea  as  it  flashes  back  the  sunlight,  and  imagine  himself  afloat  with 
Harry  Vandyne,  Walter  Morse,  Jim  Libby  and  that  old  shell-back.  Bob 
Brace,  on  the  brig  Bonita.  The  boys  discover  a  mysterious  document 
which  enables  them  to  find  a  buried  treasure.  They  are  stranded  on 
an  island  and  at  last  are  rescued  with  the  treasure.  The  boys  are  sure 
to  be  fascinated  with  this  entertaining  story. 

The     Treasure     Finders:      A    Boy's    Adventures    in 

Nicaragua.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

Roy  and  Dean  Coloney,  with  their  guide  Tongla,  leave  their  father's 
indigo  plantation  to  visit  the  wonderful  ruins  of  an  ancient  city.  The 
boys  eagerly  explore  the  temples  of  an  extinct  race  and  discover  three 
golden  images  cunningly  hidden  away.  They  escape  with  the  greatest 
difficulty.  Eventually  they  reach  safety  with  their  golden  prizes.  We 
doubt  if  there  ever  was  written  a  more  entertainrng  story  than  "The 
Treasure    Finders." 

Jack,  tlie  Hunchback.     A  Story  of  the  Coast  of  Maine. 

By  James  Otis.    Price  $1.00. 

This  is  the  story  of  a  little  hunchback  who  lived  on  Cape  Elizabeth, 
on  the  coast  of  Maine.  His  trials  and  successes  are  most  interesting. 
From  first  to  last  nothing  stays  the  interest  of  the  narrative.  It  bears  us 
along  as  on  a  stream  whose  current  varies  in  direction,  but  never  loses 
its    force. 

With  Washington  at  Monmouth:    A   Story   of   Three 

Philadelphia   Boys.     By  James  Otis.     12mo,    ornamental   cloth,    olivine 

edges,  illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Three  Philadelphia  lads  assist  the  American  spies  and  make  regular 
and  frequent  visits  to  Valley  Forge  in  the  Winter  while  the  British 
occupied  the  city.  The  story  abounds  with  pictures  of  Colonial  life 
Bkillfully  drawn,  and  the  glimpses  of  Washington's  soldiers  which  are 
given  shown  that  the  work  has  not  been  hastily  done,  or  without  con- 
siderable study.  The  story  is  wholesome  and  patriotic  in  tone,  as  are 
all    of    Mr.    Otis'    works. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUET,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


4  A.  L.  BURT^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

With  Lafayette  at  Yorktown:  A  Story  of  How  Two 

Boys  Joined  the  Continental  Army,    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  ornamental 

cloth,  olivine  edges,  illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Two  lads  from  Portmouth,  N.  H.,  attempt  to  enlist  in  the  Colonial 
Army,  and  are  given  employment  as  spies.  There  is  no  lack  of  exciting 
incidents  which  the  youthful  reader  craves,  but  it  is  healthful  excite- 
ment brimming  with  facts  which  every  boy  should  be  familiar  with, 
and  while  the  reader  is  following  the  adventures  of  Ben  Jafifrays  and 
Ned  Allen  he  is  acquiring  a  fund  of  historical  lore  which  will  remain 
In  his  memory  long  after  that  which  he  has  memorized  from  text- 
booljs    has    been    forgotten. 

lA.t  the  Siege  of  Havana.     Being  the  Experiences  of 

Three  Boys  Serving  under  Israel  Putnam  in  1762.    By  James  Otis.    12mo, 

ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illustrated,  price  SI. 50. 
"At    the   Siege   of    Havana"    deals   with    that   portion   of   the   Island's 
history    when    the    English    king    captured    the    capital,    thanks    to    the 
assistance   given   by   the   troops  from   New   England,   led  in   part   by  Col. 
Israel    Putnam. 

The  principal  characters  are  Darius  Lunt,  the  lad  who,  represented  as 
telling  the  story,  and  his  comrades,  Robert  Clement  and  Nicholas 
Vallet.  Colonel  Putnam  also  figures  to  considerable  extent,  necessarily. 
In  the  tale,  and  the  whole  forms  one  of  the  most  readable  stories  founded  on 
historical    facts. 

The  Defense  of  Fort  Henry.       A  Story  of  Wheeling 

Creek  in  1777.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  ornamental  cloth,  olivine  edges, 

illustrated,  price  $1.50. 

Nowhere  in  the  history  of  our  country  can  be  found  more  heroic  or 
thrilling  incidents  than  in  the  story  of  those  brave  men  and  women 
who  founded  the  settlement  of  Wh»,'eling  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia.  The 
recital  of  what  Elizabeth  Zane  did  is  in  itself  as  heroic  a  story  as  can 
be  imagined.  The  wondrous  bravery  displayed  by  Major  McCulloch 
and  his  gallant  comrades,  the  sufiferings  of  the  colonists  and  their  sacrifice 
of  blood  and  life,  stir  the  blood  of  old  as  well  as  young  readers. 

The  Capture  of  the  Laughing  Mary.     A  Story  of  Three 

New  York  Boys  in  1776.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  ornamental  cloth,  olivine 

edges,  price  $1.50, 

"During  the  British  occupancy  of  New  York,  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution,  a  Yankee  lad  hears  of  the  plot  to  take  General  Washington's 
person,  and  calls  in  two  companions  to  assist  the  patriot  cause.  They 
do  some  astonishing  things,  and.  incideutally,  lay  the  way  for  an 
American  navy  later,  by  the  exploit  which  gives  its  name  to  the 
work.  Mr.  Otis'  books  are  too  well  known  to  reQuire  any  particular 
commendation  to  the  young." — Evening  Post. 

With  Warren  at  Bunker  Hill.    A  Story  of  the  Siege  of 

Boston.     By  James  Otis.     12mo,  ornametnal  cloth,  olivine  edges,  illus- 
trated, price  SI. 50. 

"This  Is  a  tale  of  the  siege  of  Boston,  which  opens  on  the  day  after 
the  doings  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  with  a  description  of  home  life 
In  Boston,  introduces  the  reader  to  the  British  camp  at  Charlestown, 
shows  Gen.  Warren  at  home,  describes  what  a  boy  thought  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  closes  with  the  raising  of  the  siege.  The 
three  heroes,  George  Wentworth.  Ben  Scarlett  and  an  old  ropemaker, 
Incur  the  enmity  of  a  young  Tory,  who  causes  them  many  adventures 
the  boys  will  like  to  read." — Detroit  Free  Press. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  sent  postpaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  the 
publisher,  A.  L.  BUBT,  52-58  Duane  Street,  New  York. 


> 


ii: 


A.  L.  BURT^S  BOOKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE.  5 

BOOKS  FOR  BOYS. 

With  the  Swamp  Fox.    The  Story  of  General  Marion's 

Spies.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

This  story  deals  with  General  Francis  Marion's  heroic  struggle  in  the 
Carolinas.  General  Marion's  arrival  to  talce  command  of  these  brave 
men  and  rough  riders  is  pictured  as  a  boy  might  have  seen  it,  and 
although  the  story  is  devoted  to  what  the  lads  did,  the  Swamp  Fox 
is  ever   present    in   the   mind   of   the   reader. 

On  the  Kentucky  Frontier.     A  Story  of  the  Fighting 

Pioneers  of  the  West.    By  James  Otis,    lamo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1. 

In  the  history  of  our  country  there  is  no  more  thrilling  story  than 
that  of  the  work  done  on  the  Mississippi  river  by  a  handful  of  frontiers- 
men. Mr.  Otis  takes  the  reader  on  that  famous  expedition  from  the 
arrival  of  Major  Clarke's  force  at  Corn  Island,  until  Kaskaskla  was 
captured.  He  relates  that  part  of  Simon  Kenton's  life  history  which 
is  not  usually  touched  upon  either  by  the  historian  or  the  story  teller. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  entertaining  books  for  young  people  which  baa 
been    published. 

Sarah  Dillard's  Ride.      A  Story  of  South  Carolina  in 

in  1780.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  book  deals  with  the  Carolinas  in  1780,  giving  a  wealth  of  detail  of 
the  Mountain  Men  who  struggled  so  valiantly  against  the  king's  troops. 
Major  Ferguson  is  the  prominent  British  officer  of  the  story,  which  is 
told  as  though  coming  from  a  youth  who  experienced  these  adventures. 
In  this  way  the  famous  ride  of  Sarah  Dillard  is  brought  out  as  an 
Incident  of  the  plot." — Boston  Journal. 

A  Tory  Plot.     A  Story  of  the  Attempt  to  Kill  General 

Washington.    By  James  Otis.    ]2mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"  'A  Tory  Plot'  Is  the  story  of  two  lads  who  overhear  something 
of  the  plot  originated  during  the  Revolution  by  Gov.  Tryon  to  capture 
or  murder  Washington.  They  communicate  their  knowledge  to  Gen. 
Putnam  and  are  commissioned  by  him  to  play  the  role  of  detectives 
In  the  matter.  They  do  so,  and  meet  with  many  adventures  and  hair- 
breadth escapes.  The  boys  are,  of  course,  mythical,  but  they  serve  to  en- 
able the  author  to  put  into  very  attractive  shape  much  valuable  knowledge 
concerning  one  phase  of  the  Revolution." — Pittsburgh  Times. 

A  Traitor's  Escape.     A  Story  of  the  Attempt  to  Seize 

Benedict  Arnold,    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  is  a  tale  with  stirring  scenes  depicted  in  each  chapter,  bringing 
clearly  before  the  mind  the  glorious  deeds  of  the  early  settlers  in  this 
country.  In  an  historical  work  dealing  with  this  country's  past,  no 
plot  can  hold  the  attention  closer  than  this  one,  which  describes  the 
attempt  and  partial  success  of  Benedict  Arnold's  escape  to  New  York, 
where  he  remained  as  the  guest  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  All  those  who 
actually  figured  in  the  arrest  of  the  traitor,  as  well  as  Gen.  Washing- 
ton, are  included  as  characters." — Albany  Union. 

A  Cruise  with  Paul  Jones.     A  Story  of  ISTaval  Warfare 

in  1776.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 

"This  story  takes  up  that  portion  of  Paul  Jones'  adventurous  life 
when  he  was  hovering  off  the  British  coast,  watching  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  strike  the  enemv  a  hir.w.  it  deals  more  particularly  with 
his   descent   upon    '"'■*  '  -*   Lady   Selkirk's   plate,    and 

the    famot'"    '  ^ho    figures    in    the    tale 

Is  or  les  shortly  after  this 

par' 


of  price  By  th« 


OKS  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 


tiOOKS  r  OR  BOYS. 

Corporal  Lige's  Recruit.     A  Story  of  Crown  Point  and 

Ticonderoga.    By  James  Otis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1,00. 

"In  'Corporal  Lige's  Recruit,'  Mr.  Otis  tells  the  amusing  story  of  an 
old  soldier,  proud  of  his  record,  who  had  served  the  liing  in  '58,  and  who 
takes  the  lad,  Isaac  Rice,  as  his  'personal  recruit.'  The  lad  acquits 
himself  superbly.  Col.  Ethan  Allen  'in  the  name  of  God  and  the  con- 
tinental congress,'  Infuses  much  martial  spirit  into  the  narrative,  which 
will  arouse  the  keenest  interest  as  it  proceeds.  Crown  Point.  Ticon- 
deroga,  Benedict  Arnold  and  numerous  other  famous  historical  names 
appear  In  this  dramatic  tale." — Boston  Globe. 

Morgan,  the  Jersey  Spy.  A  Story  of  the  Siege  of  York- 
town  in  1781.  By  James  Otis.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
"The  two  lads  who  are  utilized  by  the  author  to  emphasize  the  details 
of  the  work  done  during  that  memorable  time  were  real  boys  who  lived 
on  the  banks  of  the  York  river,  and  who  aided  the  Jersey  spy  in  his 
dangerous  occupation.  In  the  guise  of  fishermen  the  lads  visit  York- 
town,  are  suspected  of  being  spies,  and  put  under  arrest.  Morgan  risks 
his  life  to  save  them.  The  final  escape,  the  thrilling  encounter  with  a 
squad  of  red  coats,  when  they  are  exposed  equally  to  the  bullets  of 
friends  and  foes,  told  in  a  masterly  fashion,  makes  of  this  volume  one 
of  the  most  entertaining  books  of  the  year." — Inter-Ocean. 

The  Young  Scout:  The  Story  of  a  West  Point  Lieu- 
tenant. By  Edward  S.  Ei^us.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1.00. 
The  crafty  Apache  chief  Geronlmo  but  a  few  years  igo  was  the 
most  terrible  scourge  of  the  southwest  border.  The  author  has  woven. 
In  a  tale  of  thrilling  interest,  all  the  incidents  of  Geronimo's  last  raid. 
The  hero  is  Lieutenant  James  Decker,  a  recent  graduate  of  West  Point. 
Ambitious  to  distinguish  himself  the  young  man  takes  many  a  desperate 
chance  against  the  enemy  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  narrowly 
escapes  with  his  life.  In  our  opinion  Mr.  Ellis  is  the  best  writer  of 
Indian    stories    now    before    the    public. 

Adrift  in  the  Wilds:  The  Adventures  of  Two  Ship- 
wrecked Boys.  By  Edward  S.  Ellis.  12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  Sl.OO. 
Elwood  Brandon  and  Howard  Lawrence  are  en  route  for  San  Fran- 
cisco. Off  the  coast  of  California  the  steamer  takes  fire.  The  two  boys 
reach  the  shore  with  several  of  the  passengers.  Young  Brandon  be- 
comes separated  from  his  party  and  is  captured  by  hostile  Indians, 
but  is  afterwards  rescued.  This  is  a  very  entertaining  narrative  of 
iSouthern    California. 

A  Young  Hero;  or,  Fighting  to  Win.     By  Edward  S. 

Ellis.    12mo.  cloth,  illusti?^^  price  Sl.OO. 

This  story  tells  how  a  valtn|B|ta^solid  silver  service  was  stolen  from 
the  Misses  Perkinpine,  two  vefl^|^and  simple  minded  ladies.  Fred 
Sheldon,  the  hero  of  this  story,  unH^kes  to  discover  the  thieves  and 
have  them  arrested.  After  much  ^^^^BLspent  in  detective  work,  he 
succeeds  in  discovering  the  silver  D^HBand.  winning  the  reward.  The 
story  is  told  in  Mr.  Ellis'  most  fasi^j^ting  style.  Every  boy  will  be 
glad   to   read   this  delightful   book.  * 

Lost  in  the  Rockies.     A  Story  of  Adventure  in  th 

Rocky  Mountains.    By  Edward  S.  Ellis.    12mo,  cloth,  illustrated,  price  $1 

Incident    succeeds    incident,    and    adventure    is    piled    upon    adventure, 

and    at    the   end    the    reader,    be    he    boy    or    man,    will   have   experienced 

breathless  enjoyment  in  this  romantic  story  describing  many  adventures  In 

the  ift^ies  and  among  the  Indians. 

Forsf^^byall  booksellers,  or  gei*  '^-'•tnaid  on  receipt  of  price  by  th« 
publisher^l^  L.  BUF'»'  .  '."•  ■•     -""  -k,     , 


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